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HEBRON: An Israeli settler was killed in a drive-by shooting Monday near the occupied West Bank city of Hebron, the latest fatality amid rising violence in the Palestinian territory.
Israeli forces have been searching for suspects in the latest attack as well as in a Saturday shooting that killed two Israelis in the northern West Bank.
Israeli medics said a woman was “confirmed dead” after being shot near the southern city of Hebron.
A man travelling with her in a car was in a “serious condition”, the Magen David Adom emergency service said in a statement.
The Israeli military confirmed the death of the 40-year-old woman and said she was shot “from a passing vehicle”.
Troops went in pursuit of the assailants and blocked roads throughout the area, an AFP photographer said.
Israeli officials identified the victim as Batsheva Nigri, a teacher living in the nearby settlement of Beit Hagai.
One of Nigri’s children was in the vehicle when it came under fire but was unhurt, said the same officials who represent settlers in the area.
Hours later, the Palestinian health ministry said Israeli forces shot six people in Beita in the northern West Bank, a day after an army raid on the village sparked clashes with residents.
One of them was in critical condition with a gunshot wound to the head, the ministry said.
The Israeli military did not comment on the violence in Beita.
– Surging violence – There has been surge in violence in the West Bank since early last year, with a string of attacks by Palestinians on Israeli targets, repeated deadly Israeli army raids and violence by Jewish settlers against Palestinian communities.
Saturday saw two Israelis shot dead in Huwara, a town near Beita, sparking a massive and ongoing manhunt for the attacker.
The area is home to some of the most extreme-right settlers in the West Bank and there have been a series of Palestinian attacks on Israeli civilians and forces there in recent months.
Settlers have also carried out attacks on Palestinian residents in Huwara and the surrounding villages.
Israel has occupied the West Bank since the Six-Day War of 1967.
Excluding annexed east Jerusalem, the territory is home to nearly three million Palestinians and around 490,000 Israelis who live in settlements considered illegal under international law.
Palestinian militant group Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, said Monday’s attack near Hebron was a “natural response” to settlement projects.
“The operations will continue until the end of the occupation,” it said in a statement.
At least 218 Palestinians have been killed in violence linked to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict so far this year.
Some 31 Israelis, one Ukrainian and one Italian have also been killed, according to an AFP tally compiled from official sources on both sides.
They include, on the Palestinian side, combatants as well as civilians and, on the Israeli side, three members of the Arab minority.
Israeli forces have been searching for suspects in the latest attack as well as in a Saturday shooting that killed two Israelis in the northern West Bank.
Israeli medics said a woman was “confirmed dead” after being shot near the southern city of Hebron.
A man travelling with her in a car was in a “serious condition”, the Magen David Adom emergency service said in a statement.
The Israeli military confirmed the death of the 40-year-old woman and said she was shot “from a passing vehicle”.
Troops went in pursuit of the assailants and blocked roads throughout the area, an AFP photographer said.
Israeli officials identified the victim as Batsheva Nigri, a teacher living in the nearby settlement of Beit Hagai.
One of Nigri’s children was in the vehicle when it came under fire but was unhurt, said the same officials who represent settlers in the area.
Hours later, the Palestinian health ministry said Israeli forces shot six people in Beita in the northern West Bank, a day after an army raid on the village sparked clashes with residents.
One of them was in critical condition with a gunshot wound to the head, the ministry said.
The Israeli military did not comment on the violence in Beita.
– Surging violence – There has been surge in violence in the West Bank since early last year, with a string of attacks by Palestinians on Israeli targets, repeated deadly Israeli army raids and violence by Jewish settlers against Palestinian communities.
Saturday saw two Israelis shot dead in Huwara, a town near Beita, sparking a massive and ongoing manhunt for the attacker.
The area is home to some of the most extreme-right settlers in the West Bank and there have been a series of Palestinian attacks on Israeli civilians and forces there in recent months.
Settlers have also carried out attacks on Palestinian residents in Huwara and the surrounding villages.
Israel has occupied the West Bank since the Six-Day War of 1967.
Excluding annexed east Jerusalem, the territory is home to nearly three million Palestinians and around 490,000 Israelis who live in settlements considered illegal under international law.
Palestinian militant group Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, said Monday’s attack near Hebron was a “natural response” to settlement projects.
“The operations will continue until the end of the occupation,” it said in a statement.
At least 218 Palestinians have been killed in violence linked to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict so far this year.
Some 31 Israelis, one Ukrainian and one Italian have also been killed, according to an AFP tally compiled from official sources on both sides.
They include, on the Palestinian side, combatants as well as civilians and, on the Israeli side, three members of the Arab minority.
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