RAMALLAH, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- A member of the Islamic movement of Hamas died of wounds a few hours after a special undercover Israeli army force stormed a town near the West Bank city of Ramallah, Hamas said Wednesday.

Salleh Omar Barghouti, 23, was shot in the town of Surda north of Ramallah, the movement said in a short text message sent to reporters.

Barghouti's body is held by the Israeli army, said residents of the town.

An Israeli army force, disguised as civilians and backed by armored vehicles, stormed on Wednesday night a small town north of Ramallah and detained two Palestinians, Israeli and Palestinian sources said.

It opened fire at a Palestinian young man who was riding in a taxi in the town, and arrested another standing nearby, the sources said.

Social media activists published photos showing the Palestinian taxi with blood stains on the backseat and bullet holes.

The Israeli army stormed the house of the young man who was critically wounded, witnesses told Xinhua.

The two Palestinians were suspected of attacking a bus carrying Israeli settlers last week near the settlement of Ofra, during which seven Israelis, including a pregnant woman, were injured, Israeli media reported.

Since the armed attack, Israeli army forces have been active in Ramallah and its suburbs, searching for suspects, according to Israeli Radio.

Earlier in the day, clashes broke out between dozens of Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli soldiers, in which two Palestinians were injured by Israeli gunshots, according to witnesses.