Fierce clashes broke out on Monday night between dozens of Palestinians and Israeli army soldiers in the northern West Bank refugee camp of Jenin, witnesses and security officials said.

The eyewitnesses said the clashes broke out when an Israeli army force, backed by armored vehicles, stormed the refugee camp while firing tear gas and percussion bombs at dozens of young men who threw stones at the soldiers.

Security officials in northern West Bank said that the Israeli soldiers stormed several houses in the refugee camp after erecting roadblocks at its entrances and they checked Palestinian vehicles.

Residents in the refugee camp said that the soldiers arrested two Islamic Hamas movement activists from their home in the camp.

Meanwhile, a spokeswoman with the Israeli military confirmed to Xinhua that "fire exchanges" began after Israeli force arrived at a house in Jenin to arrest Palestinian "terrorist suspects." She didn't elaborate on casualties.

Israeli media quoted Israeli army officials as saying that one Israeli soldier was injured in the clashes.

Source: XINHUA