Israeli troops 'mistakenly' open fire on security center in West Bank

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Israeli troops opened fire at Palestinian Authority (PA) security forces on Tuesday after mistakenly identifying them as "suspects," an Israeli military spokesperson said.

The rare incident took place before dawn in the city of Nablus in the central occupied West Bank.

The troops were on "operational activity" to arrest "terror operatives," the spokesperson said in a statement.

Palestinian man uses slingshot to throw gas canister back to Israeli forces during a demonstration in Rafah, Gaza, May 15, 2019. /VCG Photo

"Fire was exchanged between the Israel Defense Forces troops and a group of armed men who were identified by the troops as suspects," said the spokesperson. "In retrospect, the men were Palestinian security forces."

No injuries to Israeli soldiers were reported. The army said the incident will be reviewed.

An unnamed official with the PA told the Hebrew-language Ynet news site that the incident is currently under investigation.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (L) meets with U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman (C) upon his arrival at Ben Gurion International Airport, near the Israeli city of Tel Aviv, March 20, 2019. /VCG Photo

Israeli security forces frequently carry out night raids in West Bank cities to arrest Palestinians involved in protests and attacks against soldiers and settlers.

Israel seized the West Bank in the 1967 Middle East war and has controlled it ever since, despite international criticism.

U.S. ambassador: Israel has the right to retain some of West Bank

The New York Times on Saturday quoted U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman as saying that under certain circumstances, Israel had the right to retain some of the West Bank.

Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki attends a preparatory meeting for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Arab and Islamic summits in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, May 29, 2019. /Reuters Photo

In response to the remarks, the Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki said on Monday that the comments were intended to help Israel annex parts of the occupied West Bank, underscoring the Palestinians' distrust of the Trump administration.

In April, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he intended to annex Jewish settlements built on land the Palestinians hope will form part of an eventual independent state.

"It seems that Friedman with his statement is trying to help Netanyahu to have the courage to take such a decision," Riyad al-Maliki said during a visit to Warsaw.

While the United Nations and most countries view Israeli settlements in the West Bank, territory captured in the 1967 Middle East war, as illegal.

Palestinians search their usable wares from collapsed buildings after Israeli warplanes carried out airstrikes in Gaza City, Gaza, May 6, 2019. /VCG Photo

The White House will present the first part of U.S. President Donald Trump's separate peace plan when it holds an international conference in Bahrain in late June to encourage investment in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Palestinian officials have rebuked the U.S. effort, which they believe will be heavily biased in favor of Israel.

The Trump administration recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital in 2017 and Palestinians have seen cuts in U.S. funding that have contributed to their economic distress in the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

(Cover: Israeli soldiers aim their weapons during clashes with Palestinians in Hebron, the Israeli-occupied West Bank, April 12, 2019. /VCG Photo)

(With input from Xinhua, Reuters)