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Israeli army continued operations in West Bank city of Nablus for the third day, arresting six Palestinians and damaging entrances of houses while searching for wanted activists, witnesses say.
The large-scale incursion started on Thursday when the forces imposed curfew in Nablus' Old City district. According to the residents, the curfew was expanded by Saturday to cover more areas of the town.
At the start of the invasion Thursday, the soldiers opened fire at a Palestinian gunman and wounded him but he succeeded to escape. Since then, the troops surrounded a number of hospitals searching for the militant who is said to be wanted by Israel.
The troops, backed with up to 100 tanks, withdrew from the city at pre-dawn and then returned suddenly about an hour later. Residents say the soldiers occupied and holed up in many houses.
The operation angered the Palestinian Authority (PA) which became in charge of the town's security upon a deal reached with Israel a few months ago.
Meanwhile, an aide to Palestinian Premier Salam Fayyad condemned the Israeli military operations in Nablus and also in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip.
"It is clear that the aggression on the Palestinian territories, especially Nablus, aims at spoiling the successes and the government's efforts to restore security in West Bank," local news agency of Maan quoted the aide on condition of anonymity.
The aide added that Fayyad has canceled a visit to Cairo in order to follow up the Israeli offensive and work on stopping it.
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