The raid came during a period of heightened tensions that have drawn fears of a further escalation in violence. File photo

Israeli forces killed a number of armed fighters during a raid on a refugee camp near the city of Jericho on Monday aimed at capturing suspected Hamas members, according to a statement from the Israeli military.

According to Israeli security official that at least five Palestinians killed in Jericho raid.

It said the targets of the raid were suspected of an attempted attack on a restaurant in the Israeli settlement of Vered Yeriho on Jan. 28.

The Palestinian health ministry said three people had been wounded, one critically but it gave no details on any dead.

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The raid came during a period of heightened tensions that have drawn fears of a further escalation in violence and prompted calls for calm on both sides from the United States and international bodies including the United Nations.

The military said Monday's raid in the Aqabat Jabr camp was aimed at capturing a group belonging to Hamas, the hardline movement that runs Gaza, who it said were barricaded in a house in the camp and were planning further operations following the attempted restaurant attack.

On Jan. 28, it said two armed individuals appeared in a restaurant in the Vered Yeriho settlement, where around 30 people were present, but fled before carrying out an attack after a weapon malfunctioned.

Over the past week, it said security forces had conducted a number of operations to try to find and arrest the suspects.

Reuters