2 Palestinians killed in Israeli army raid in West Bank

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Source: CCTV.com | 06-25-2008 08:40

Israeli forces have killed two Palestinians in the West Bank. It's the first deadly raid since Israel and Hamas declared a ceasefire in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip last week.Egypt says it's working for release of a Israeli soldier.

Palestinians carry the body of Hamas activist Eyad Khanfar  during his funeral procession in the West Bank city of  Nablus June 24, 2008. Israeli forces killed two Palestinians,  including Khanfar, in Nablus on Tuesday in the first fatal  raid since a ceasefire took hold in the Gaza Strip last week. REUTERS/Abed Omar Qusini

An Israeli army spokesman identified the victims as a senior member of the Islamic Jihad militant group and another man affiliated with Hamas in the West Bank city of Nablus. The military claims the senior member directed "terrorist squads" in the northern West Bank and was involved in making explosive devices.

Hamas condemned the Israeli raid.

Sami Abu Zuhri, Hamas official, said, "We call upon all the parties concerned to exert pressure on the occupation to stop all sorts of aggressions against the Palestinian people."

Palestinians observe the damage in a house after an Israeli  military operation in the West Bank city of Nablus June 24,  2008. Israeli forces killed two Palestinians, including  an Islamic Jihad commander, in Nablus on Tuesday in the first  fatal raid since a ceasefire took hold in the Gaza Strip last  week.REUTERS/Abed Omar Qusini(WEST BANK)

Though the truce only applies to Gaza, Islamic Jihad leaders in the coastal territory had threatened to retaliate if Israel killed any of its members in the occupied West Bank.

Under the ceasefire deal brokered by Egypt, Hamas is supposed to prevent other militant groups, including Islamic Jihad, from launching cross-border attacks.

Israel hopes a prisoner swap will bring the release of an Israeli soldier held captive in Gaza, provided the truce continues to hold.

Hamas says it depends on the outcome of talks.

Sami Abu Zuhri said, "We in Hamas express our full readiness to begin intensive and fast talks to conclude a prisoner swap deal to free the soldier Gilad Shalit in accordance to Hamas and Palestinian conditions and criteria."

Meanwhile, Egypt has told Israel it's trying to secure the release of Shalit, which was not included in last week's truce.

Editor:Du Xiaodan