RAMALLAH, Aug. 25 (Xinhuanet) -- Israeli soldiers shot dead five Palestinians overnight near the refugee camp of Tulkarm in southern West Bank, Palestinian medics and witnesses said Thursday.

    An Israeli undercover unit, backed by tanks and armored vehicles, stormed a building near the refugee camp and killed three Palestinian militants of the Islamic Jihad (Holy War), said witnesses.

    They added that another two Palestinians were killed in a clash between militants and the soldiers in the area.

    An Israeli army spokesman confirmed that the killed were members of the Islamic Jihad, who were intending to attack Israeli targets in the West Bank.

    However, Palestinian witnesses said that three of the killed were members of the Islamic Jihad while the other two were civilians.

    Armed wings of the Islamic Jihad, Hamas and the ruling Fatah movement threatened to avenge the killing. Enditem