A Palestinian woman was shot dead by Israeli troops during a raid on Balata refugee camp near the northern West Bank city of Nablus on Sunday, Palestinian medics and witnesses said.

Medics at Rafidya Hospital in Nablus said that Aa'esha Abu Musallam, 48, sustained fatal injuries in head and chest.

Witnesses said that Musallam, mother of three children, stood behind window early on Sunday morning watching the situation on the road as her husband was determined to go out for work.

They said that one Israeli soldier opened fire at Musallam as he spotted her.

The ill-fated woman died on the way to the hospital, they added.

But the Israeli army denied the charge, saying Israeli soldiers did not return fire when they were attacked by gunshots during an arrest operation.

The Israeli Army Radio said that the army conducted an arrest operation throughout the West Bank overnight Saturday, detaining six Palestinian fugitives from the Islamic Jihad (Holy War), Fatah and Hamas movements.

Source: Xinhua