An Israeli soldier was killed and seven others were injured early Monday morning in an explosion in the West Bank city of Nablus. 

Al Aqssa Martyrs Brigades, the armed wing of Fatah and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, claimed responsibility for the attack, saying the operation is a gift to the Lebanese resistance.

An AFP new agency reporter at the scene said the body of the soldier was lying in an alley surrounded by a group of Palestinians.

The Israeli army has threatened the residents of the old city of Nablus to return the body of the soldier within an hour or the army will invade.

Haaretz newspaper reported the soldiers invaded the old city of Nablus to arrest "wanted" resistence fighters when the bomb was thrown at them.

Three soldiers were treated for minors injuries. A fourther soldier had moderate wounds and is the son of GOC Central Command head Yair Naveh.

The soldier’s death comes after days of rallies in the streets of Nablus protesting the Israeli attacks in Gaza and Lebanon.

 

Meanwhile, troops took thee residents, Ayman Seid, 38, Tamer Al Qedawi, 22, Ra’ed Hanna 22, as prisoners to an unknown location.