Palestinian (18) killed in West Bank gun battle

Israeli soldiers shot and killed a Palestinian gunman today in a gun battle in the occupied West Bank, a Palestinian security…

Israeli soldiers shot and killed a Palestinian gunman today in a gun battle in the occupied West Bank, a Palestinian security source said.

The source said an 18-year-old member of the Islamic Jihad militant group was killed, and several people were wounded in a gun battle with Israeli forces.

An Israeli army spokesman said soldiers had shot an armed man in the village of Qabatiyah, near the West Bank city of Jenin, after gunmen opened fire and threw explosive devices at the troops.

Soldiers also arrested seven Palestinians in raids throughout the West Bank.

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The violence came as Israel stepped up military action against militants firing rockets at Israeli towns from the Gaza Strip. Israeli raids have killed 21 Palestinians since Thursday.