Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat described the killing of 10 Palestinians by Israeli soldiers in the northern West Bank towns of Nablus and Jenin on Wednesday as "a great unforgivable crime."

"What happened in Jenin and Nablus is a crime that can never be forgiven and it is part of their (Israelis) insistence to continue the armed escalation against our people, their holy sites, their farms, women and children," he said.

Israeli troops raided at predawn on Wednesday the West Bank town of Nablus and carried out a military operation, killing six Palestinian militants, Palestinian witnesses and medics reported.

They said an Israeli unit belonging to the naval forces stormed the long-time besieged city in northern West Bank, claiming that they are looking for Palestinian militants.

The residents said most of the militants are members of al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, the armed wing of the Palestinian mainstream Fatah movement.

A status of mourning was declared for three days in the town, where schools and universities will be shut down to express protest and grief for killing the militants.

In Jenin, Palestinians said Israeli special troops shot dead four Palestinian militants, members of al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades.

The Israeli troops confirmed there was a pinpoint operation to arrest wanted men in Jenin and armed Palestinians were spotted and shot dead.

Jenin is the stronghold of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades.

Source: Xinhua