Five Palestinians have been killed in clashes with Israeli forces around the city of Tulkarem in the northern West Bank, the director of a local hospital told AFP.

The five Palestinian men, aged 21 to 29, were killed during an operation in the city by the Israeli army, said Amin Khader, head of the Thabet hospital, where the deaths were recorded.

Witnesses reported violent confrontations in the area and a massive deployment of Israeli soldiers seeking to make arrests.

The Israeli army confirmed to AFP that an operation had taken place in the same part of the occupied West Bank, but it did not give a reason or comment on any Palestinian casualties.