NABLUS (Ma'an) -- Israeli soldiers shot and killed a young Palestinian man early Wednesday near Nablus in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian and Israeli security officials said.

University student Ibrahim Sarhan was shot while emerging from a mosque during a search operation in Al-Farah refugee camp near Nablus, Palestinian security sources told AFP.

Soldiers were looking for an activist of the Islamic Jihad movement but Sarhan did not belong to any Palestinian political group, they said.

A Ma'an correspondent said Sarhan sustained a gunshot wound to the thigh following his arrest and subsequently bled to death. His body was transferred to Rafidia Hospital.

An Israeli army spokeswoman said soldiers opened fire when Sarhan attempted to flee.

"Soldiers began an arrest procedure, eventually firing at his lower body," the official said. "The soldiers identified a hit and the man was evacuated by Palestinian medics."

It was not clear why he was under arrest.

Israeli soldiers arrested five people during the raid in the camp.

She also said an explosive device was hurled at soldiers performing "routine activity." None of the Israeli forces were injured, the spokeswoman added.

Sarhan was an engineering student at An-Najah University.

Clashes erupted between the Israeli army and Palestinians in the refugee camp after the shooting.