Man killed in West Bank raid by Palestinian forces
Palestinian security forces shot dead a wanted man on Tuesday during an arrest operation in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, a Palestinian official said.
Anwar Rajab, spokesman for the Palestinian security forces, said in a statement that a gun battle erupted during "an operation to arrest a wanted individual" in northern West Bank, where Palestinian militant factions have a strong presence.
"The force was surprised by direct gunfire from outlaws" and returned fire, wounding "one of the prominent figures in the state of lawlessness in the area" who later died of his injuries, Rajab said.
The forces of the Palestinian Authority (PA), which exercises limited self-rule in parts of the West Bank, had launched a military campaign late last year targeting people it describes as "outlaws", often referring to members of armed Palestinian factions.
Ahmed Asaad, governor of Tubas where Tuesday's raid took place, identified the dead man as 19-year-old Rami Zahran.
The governor said Zahran was killed at the entrance to the neighboring Faraa refugee camp that he hailed from.
"The security forces were met with resistance and gunfire, and they responded to the source, which led to the killing of a young man," Asaad told AFP.
"Efforts are now underway to calm the situation", Asaad added, saying he had ordered an investigation into the incident including an autopsy.
Rajab said in his statement that "the Palestinian security forces will not allow any party or individual to threaten security and stability or bypass the law".
The operation that began in December saw security forces clash with Palestinian militant factions that favor armed opposition to Israel and regularly criticize the PA for its security coordination with it.
The fighting resulted in the deaths of at least 15 Palestinians as well as six members of the Palestinian security forces.
The campaign drew criticism from Palestinians and ended in January, after the Israeli military launched a large-scale "counter-terrorism" operation in and around refugee camps in the northern West Bank.
Source: Agence France Presse
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