Palestinian gunmen killed four Israelis in the West Bank on Tuesday, in the deadliest attack in the area in months. The Israeli military said the shooters were affiliated with Hamas, the Islamist militant group that controls the Gaza Strip.
The attack occurred in Ariel, a city in the northern West Bank, where the Palestinian gunmen opened fire on a group of Israelis sitting in a car. Four individuals lost their lives in the attack, and a fifth victim succumbed to injuries later at the hospital.
The Israeli military initiated a manhunt and engaged in a shootout, resulting in the death of one gunman, while the others remain at large. Both the Israeli and Palestinian governments condemned the attack. Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett described it as an act of terror and vowed a forceful response, while Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas labeled it a crime against humanity that would likely escalate violence.
The incident unfolds amidst escalated tensions between Israel and the Palestinians, witnessing numerous deadly attacks in both the West Bank and Israel. In response, the Israeli military has intensified operations in the West Bank, yet the violence persists.
This attack serves as a reminder of the enduring conflict between Israel and the Palestinians and the inherent risks associated with residing in the volatile West Bank region.
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