Four Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in West Bank city of Jenin

Israeli forces on a raid in the occupied West Bank on Monday killed four Palestinian youths and withheld the bodies of two, local reports said. 

The attack occurred in the city of Jenin, where, Israeli police said in a statement, its special forces "disguised as Palestinians" came under heavy fire from "a large number" of attackers while on a mission to detain an alleged "militant". 

"The undercover forces returned fire towards the terrorists and neutralised them," the police claimed, reporting no Israeli causalities. 

Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that Israeli forces raided the neighbourhood, sparking confrontations with Palestinian youths who attempted to block their passage. The soldiers then opened fire towards them.

On Voice of Palestine radio, Jenin's governor said at least four Palestinians were killed.

Sources at Jenin hospital told WAFA that Saleh Amar, 19, from Jenin refugee camp, and Raed Abu Saif, 21, from Jenin city, have both been killed by Israeli gunfire.

Israeli forces kidnapped the bodies of two of the slain Palestinians, one of them identified as Nour Jarrar from Jenin city while the fourth has yet to be identified.

Additionally, Israeli forces also shot Amjad Azmi, who was reported in serious condition, Wafa added.

A general strike and a day of mourning have been declared in the city.

Israel routinely withholds the bodies of Palestinians its forces shoot dead. The practice has been regularly denounced by Palestinians as inhumane, saying it is a form of psychological warfare and collective punishment.

Israel is thought to keep the bodies of Palestinians as bargaining chips.

Rights groups have also accused the occupying forces of using "unnecessary and excessive force" and carrying out extrajudicial killings against Palestinians.

Israel occupied the West Bank during the 1967 Six-Day War and all Jewish settlements there are considered illegal by most of the international community.

Almost half a million Jewish Israelis live in settlements in the West Bank, alongside 2.8 million Palestinians.