At least six Palestinians have been killed in an Israeli military operation in Nablus in the West Bank, according to Palestinian sources. In addition, 73 people were injured, as the Ministry of Health in Ramallah announced on Wednesday. Six of them are in critical condition. A 72-year-old is among the dead.

The Israeli military only announced that there had been an operation in the city in the morning. At first there was no further information. Nablus is considered a stronghold of militant Palestinians.

According to reports, Israeli forces had surrounded a house in the city during a raid. This led to clashes with militant Palestinians. Eyewitnesses reported explosions and shots in the city.

The security situation is extremely tense

The security situation in Israel and the Palestinian territories has long been extremely tense. Since the beginning of the year, nine Israelis and one Ukrainian have been killed in attacks by Palestinians. In the same period, 55 Palestinians lost their lives - they were shot in clashes with the Israeli army or after their own attacks. There are also repeated reports of violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians, Israeli activists or soldiers.

Israel conquered the West Bank and East Jerusalem in 1967. More than 600,000 Israeli settlers live there today. The Palestinians claim the territories for an independent state of Palestine with the Arab-influenced eastern part of Jerusalem as the capital.