RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) - Israeli soldiers shot and killed two Palestinians in the occupied West Bank on Monday after entering a refugee camp to make arrests, medical officials and the military said.
An Israeli military spokeswoman said rioting broke out in the Qalandiya camp, near Ramallah, during "a routine operation to arrest Palestinian suspects". Five soldiers were slightly injured, she added.
Palestinian medical officials said two men, aged 23 and 25, were shot, one in the head and the other in the stomach. The Israeli military spokeswoman said the army was investigating the incident.
A spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the shooting. "This is an Israeli attempt to create an atmosphere of escalation ahead of September," the spokesman said.
Palestinians plan to apply for full U.N. membership for an independent state in the West Bank and Gaza in September. U.S.-brokered peace talks with Israel broke down last year and efforts to revive negotiations have faltered.
Abbas called on Palestinians last week to step up peaceful protests against Israel ahead of the U.N. bid.
The Israeli military has said it will bolster border defences in anticipation of any protests inspired by uprisings across the Arab world.
(Writing by Maayan Lubell; Editing by Andrew Heavens)
Israeli troops kill two Palestinians in West Bank
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