(Xinhua/AFP Photo)

(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

(Xinhua/AP Photo)

    GAZA, June 26 (Xinhuanet) -- The latest death toll rose to 8 Palestinians in an Israeli soldiers' raid on the old city of the northern West Bank city of Nablus on Saturday, medics and eyewitnesses said.

    Medics in Nablus said that at least eight Palestinians were shot dead and several others were injured, adding that they managed to take out the bodies of the Palestinians from inside the raided area in the overcrowded old city after the Israeli soldiers left the area.

    Earlier reports put the death toll at 6 Palestinians. Witnesses said that most of those were killed are members of AlAqsa Martyrs Brigades, the armed wing of Fatah movement chaired by Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

    Among the eight Palestinians that were killed in the old city of Nablus is Nayef Abu Sharekh, the commander of the group in the city that has been wanted to Israel for several years, they added.The medics noted that the number of casualties is expected tomount as the Israeli army forces are still operating into the area,adding that there are at least nine others were injured.The Israeli army forces have been operating in Nablus for two days claiming that they are looking for wanted militants, where another two Palestinians were killed early Saturday by the Israeli soldiers.

    The latest casualties brought the overall death toll since the launch of the latest Palestinian uprising in September 2000 to 4,127, including 3,135 Palestinians and 920 Israelis, it was reported.

    Also on Saturday, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat renewed his calls upon the Israeli people to make just and comprehensive peace in the region, saying that he is committed to a truce during the Olympic Games that will take place in Greece next August.Arafat's statements came while Egypt is exerting intensified efforts to reach a cease-fire agreement between Israel and the Palestinian in order to pave the way for the Israeli unilateral evacuation from the Gaza Strip. Enditem