At least 6 Palestinians killed by Israeli fire in West Bank

RAMALLAH, Palestine (AA) - At least six Palestinians were killed early Monday in clashes with Israeli forces in several cities in the occupied West Bank.

In a series statements, the Palestinian Health Ministry said that one person was killed in Jericho, three in Qalandia in northern Jerusalem and one each in Hebron and Nablus by gunfire from occupation forces.

The ministry said the bodies of the three youths from Qalandia had been transferred to the medical center in Ramallah.

The official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported that Israeli forces had opened fire with live ammunition on the three youth in a clash at a military checkpoint.

The Palestinian Red Crescent also announced that three Palestinians who were seriously wounded at the Qalandia checkpoint had been transported to a hospital.

The Palestinian group Hamas launched Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on Saturday, saying the surprise multifront attack on Israel was in response to the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and increased settler violence. It said it fired rockets and captured many Israelis.

In retaliation, the Israeli army initiated Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

At least 417 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 2,200 others injured in the attacks, according to medical sources in Gaza, while the Israeli death toll has climbed to over 700.