Reports: Violent clashes during ongoing Israeli operation in Jenin

Israel's large-scale military operation in Jenin in the northern West Bank is continuing, Palestinians said on Saturday.

Heavy clashes were reported between Israeli forces and armed Palestinians in the flashpoint city, which is considered a militant stronghold and frequently sees raids by Israeli troops.

Several people were taken into custody in an eastern Jenin neighbourhood on Saturday, the Palestinian news agency WAFA reported.

Israeli soldiers prevented Palestinian civil defence workers from bringing water to a hospital, WAFA also reported.

The director of the Jenin Governmental Hospital told the agency that there were fears that shortages of clean water would especially impact patients with kidney disease who require dialysis treatments.

WAFA reported that water pipes supplying the hospital have been damaged by the Israeli military operation and that several parts of Jenin have been cut off from water.

There are also said to be power cuts in some places.

The account could not be independently verified. Upon enquiry, Israel's military stated that it was investigating the reports.

Israel launched simultaneous military operations in Jenin, Tulkarem and Tubas on Wednesday on the ground that there had been a significant increase in the number of attacks on Israelis.

The army said the aim is to take action against West Bank terrorist cells affiliated with the Hamas and Islamic Jihad organizations.

The Israeli army said 20 Palestinian militants have been killed in exchanges of fire and airstrikes since the start of the large-scale operation. Dozens of explosive devices have been destroyed and numerous weapons confiscated, it said.