JENIN: Israeli forces shot dead two Palestinians on Thursday during a raid that sparked gun battles in a West Bank stronghold of hardline factions, said Palestinian officials and Israel`s army.

Muhammad Ayman al-Saadi, 26, and Naim Jamal Zubaidi, 27, were `killed by the Israeli occupation bullets at dawn today during its aggression on Jenin camp, a Palestinian health ministry statement said.

Israel`s army and Prime Minister Yair Lapid identified both Saadi and Zubaldi as `top militants` and confirmed their deaths in the operation, Israel`s latest in the West Bank. Deadly violence has surged in the territory since March, when Israel launched near daily raids following a series of deadly attacks targeting Israelis.-AFP