A relative of one of five Palestinians arrested by Israel over claims of killing of an Israeli couple in the West Bank says troops took measurements of their homes in an apparent prelude to demolishing them.

Ayman Masri, whose nephew was among those arrested, says Israeli troops raided five homes in the Israeli Occupied West Bank city of Nablus on Wednesday. Palestinian official Qadura Fares says another five were raided elsewhere.

Israeli forces had no immediate comment.

Israel says the arrested men shot and killed the couple in front of their four children in a drive-by attack last week, which came amid a spike in violence.

On Tuesday Israel demolished homes of two Palestinian who carried out attacks in Jerusalem last year. The policy is meant to deter attacks.

*The story was edited by Ahram Online.