Israeli troops arrested on Wednesday 18 Palestinians during raids in various parts of the occupied West Bank, Palestinian security sources and Israeli Radio reported.

The sources said that Israeli troops backed by army vehicles stormed northern West Bank city of Nablus, raided several houses and detained 14 civilians in the city.

Israeli radio quoted an Israeli army spokesman as saying that the detainees were wanted by the Israeli state's security and intelligence services and most of them were seized in Nablus city.

The Palestinian security sources said other arrests were reported in the city of Hebron. The Israeli arrests are part of nearly daily incursions and raids in the villages and towns of the West Bank.

The arrests continue despite efforts to free hundreds of prisoners under a prisoner swap between Israel and Islamic Hamas movement which controls Gaza Strip.

Hamas, which holds an Israeli soldier hostage since 2006, insists on releasing senior prisoners who once led attacks that killed tens of Israelis.

The indirect negotiations stopped due to Israel's refusal to free the masterminds of the suicide bombings that took place in Israel over the past years.