Army denies kidnap of 2 soldiers, continues to operate in Nablus

Israel late Thursday denied widely publicized reports that two of its soldiers had been kidnapped and killedÃ‚Â in Nablus.

‘All of our troops have reported back to their command,’ said a statement issued by defense officials. ‘No one is missing.’

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The Islamic Jihad movement and the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, the two groups reported to have kidnapped the soldiers, denied any involvement in the abduction or killing of any Israeli soldier.

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Earlier Thursday, Israeli troops invaded the West Bank city of Nablus in what was described as a major search operation for the allegedly kidnapped soldiers. The troops continued to operate inside Nablus during the night, even after the kidnapping reports were denied.

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The abduction scare began Thursday afternoon, when a masked militant claiming to represent Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades announced that his group had kidnapped and killed two Israeli undercover soldiers who entered the city of Nablus by mistake.

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In response, over twenty Israeli military Jeeps and Hummers raided Balata Refugee Camp near Nablus. Chris, an international peace activist from the UK, told IMEMC in a phone interview that soldiers in the military vehicles threw tear gas grenades in the camp.

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Israeli forces also clashed with fighters from a group called the ‘Ayman Joude Brigade,’ which claimed to be holding the kidnapped soldiers.

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The Israeli army radio station reported that one soldier was wounded in the exchange of fire.

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The announcement followed a denial by both the Islamic Jihad movement and Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, the two groups who reportedly kidnapped two soldiers, denied any involvement in the kidnap or the killing of any Israeli soldier.

Earlier on the day Israeli troops invaded the West Bank city of Nablus in what was described as a grand search operation for the allegedly kidnapped soldiers.

Even as it was determined there was no validity to the reported kidnappings, troops continued to operate inside Nablus during the night.

Earlier on Thursday afternoon, a masked militant, claiming to represent Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, announced that his group had kidnapped and killed two Israeli soldiers who entered into the city of Nablus by mistake.

Two undercover troops said killed in Nablus

Palestinian Sources said the two soldiers held in Nablus were killed.Ã‚Â Al-Quds Brigades and the Aqsa Martyrs Brigades claimed responsibility for killing them.Ã‚Â Israeli sources did not confirm the soldiers death.

Two undercover soldiers held in Nablus, Army raids the city

Over twenty Israeli military vehicles, Jeeps and Hummers raided Balata refugee camp near the West Bank city of Nablus on Thursday afternoon, Eyewitnesses reported.

Chris, an international peace activist from UK, told IMEMC in a phone interview that the jeeps raided the camp this afternoon and made use of tear gas grenades.

Later the force clashed with some resistance fighters who belong to a group called Ã¢â‚¬Å“Ayman Joude Brigade.Ã¢â‚¬ÂÃ‚Â The group claimed responsibility for holding two Israeli undercover soldiers who sneaked into Nablus earlier on Thursday.

The group said, the soldiers claimed they entered Nablus by mistake.Ã‚Â Ã‚Â However, eyewitness reports said that all entrances to the city are blocked by checkpoints and there is no way anybody can enter Nablus by mistake.

The army Radio reported the one soldier has been wounded in the exchange of fire in the city.