RAMALLAH, Palestine 

A Palestinian was killed and six others were injured during an Israeli military raid in the West Bank city of Nablus on Thursday, according to the Health Ministry.

Israeli forces raided the Ein Beit Al-Mai refugee camp in Nablus early morning and besieged a residential building inside, triggering clashes with local residents, witnesses said.

According to witnesses, Israeli forces used live fire, rubber-coated bullets and tear gas canisters to disperse stone-throwing Palestinians.

In a statement, the Health Ministry said a 20-year-old Palestinian was killed and six others were injured, including one seriously.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said nearly 170 Palestinians also suffered temporary asphyxiation from tear gas canisters fired by Israeli forces.

Witnesses said Israeli forces demolished a house for the family of Palestinian detainee Osama Tawil, who is accused by the Israeli army of carrying out an attack that killed a soldier last October.

The Israeli army demolishes homes of Palestinians accused of carrying out attacks against Israelis, a policy that has triggered widespread condemnations from rights groups as a form of collective punishment.

Tensions have been running high across the occupied West Bank in recent months amid repeated Israeli raids into Palestinian towns.

According to Palestinian figures, 161 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces since the start of this year. At least 21 Israelis have also been killed in separate attacks during the same period.

* Writing by Ahmed Asmar