Seven Palestinians, two Israelis killed in West Bank

Israeli Army air strike kills seven Palestinians in West Bank, violence surges to two-decade high.

Nine persons were killed on Sunday in the occupied West Bank, including seven Palestinians who were targeted in an air strike by the Israeli Army, sources on both sides said.

Violence in the West Bank since the start of Israel's war with Gaza-based Hamas militants has surged to levels unseen in nearly two decades. Israeli forces carry out regular raids in the occupied territory, especially in the militant stronghold of Jenin and its adjacent refugee camp.

"An Israeli occupation bombardment on a group of citizens killed seven persons in Jenin," said the Palestinian Authority-run Ministry of Health, which is based in Ramallah.

The Army, however, said, "six terrorists were killed when an aircraft struck a terrorist who hurled explosive devices" at troops in an operation in Jenin refugee camp.

Police said an Israeli police officer was killed during an operation at the refugee camp.

"She (officer) was in an operational vehicle that was hit by an explosive device," the force said, adding three other officers were also wounded.

In another incident north of Ramallah, an Israeli civilian was shot dead, the Army said.