The Palestinian Authority on Monday called on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to launch an investigation into Israeli “crimes” and bring those responsible to trial.The call came in response to the killing of three Palestinians during armed clashes with Israeli security forces in Balata refugee camp, near Nablus, earlier on Monday.The three men killed in Balata were identified as Fathi Jihad Rizeq, 30, Abdullah Yusef Abu Hamdan, 24, and Muhammed Bilal Zaytoun, 32. Another three Palestinians were wounded, one critically, during the raid.
Thousands of Palestinians, including dozens of gunmen, attended the funeral of the three men. A general strike was declared in Nablus and its surrounding villages and refugee camps to mourn the death of the three men.The counterterrorism activity in Balata refugee camp, which came following intelligence from the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), was conducted by soldiers and Border Police officers, the IDF said in a statement.The troops apprehended three wanted individuals suspected of involvement in terrorism and confiscated three M-16 rifles, ammunition, military equipment and weapon parts, according to the statement. The forces located in one of the houses an explosives manufacturing site containing dozens of kilograms of explosives.
During the operation, gunmen fired at soldiers, who responded with live fire, the IDF said.
Also Monday morning, soldiers who entered Jenin arrested three Palestinian suspects and confiscated military equipment. While the forces existed the city, suspects hurled explosive devices at the forces, who responded with live fire.
Palestinian Authority condemns 'massacre' in Balata
The troops apprehended three wanted individuals suspected of involvement in terrorism and confiscated three M-16 rifles, ammunition, military equipment and weapon parts, according to the statement. In one of the houses, the forces found an explosives manufacturing site, containing dozens of kilograms of explosives.During the operation, gunmen fired at soldiers, who responded with live fire, the IDF said.waging an open-ended war” on the Palestinians.Hamas said Israel would pay the price for its “heinous crime.”The killing of the three men would not discourage the Palestinians from responding to the Israeli “crimes” and defending al-Aqsa Mosque, it said.Islamic Jihad, the second-largest terrorist group in the Gaza Strip after Hamas, said Israeli “crimes will increase the determination of the Palestinians to continue the path of resistance.” It said the three slain men were “brave resistance fighters” and called for stepping up armed attacks against Israel.