Four Palestinians were killed and several were wounded during an Israeli army raid in the northern West Bank city of Jenin on Thursday morning.

An Israeli army force barged its way into Jenin city and its neighboring Jenin refugee camp, where snipers seized positions on the rooftops of houses, trigging violent confrontations.

The heavily-armed soldiers opened fire towards local youths attempting to block their entry.

The Palestinian Authority Health Ministry in a statement said at least four Palestinians were killed, with several more seriously wounded.

The fatalities included an elderly woman, the ministry said.

The Health Ministry identified the slain youth as Saeb Issam Mahmoud Izreiqi, 24.

Palestinian media reports estimated that the toll would rise further.

The army force disconnected the power supply to the camp, denied paramedics and reporters access to it and directly targeted an ambulance.