<span style="color: #222222;">Nine Palestinians, including an elderly woman, have been killed in an Israeli military raid in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian officials say. <br />''<br />'' The Palestinian health minister warned that the situation was "critical" in Jenin, with many other people injured and ambulances unable to reach them.  The children's ward of a local hospital was hit by Israeli tear gas, she said.<br />''<br />''Israel's military released few details, but Israeli media said it had acted to foil "a major attack" by militants.<br />''<br />''The Palestinian militant groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad said they were battling Israeli troops in the flashpoint town, where there have been repeated Israeli raids.<br />''<br />''Tensions have recently risen in the West Bank as the Israeli military continues what it describes as an anti-terrorism offensive.  At least 29 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in the West Bank so far this year, including militants and civilians.</span><br />