Israeli troops kill 4 Palestinians in West Bank clashes

At least four Palestinian gunmen were killed in shootouts with Israeli security forces during a sweeping West Bank arrest operation cracking down on Islamic militant group Hamas on Sunday, Israeli military said. Sunday’s violence was deadliest between Israeli troops and Palestinian militants in occupied West Bank in recent weeks and came amid heightened tensions following this year’s 11-day war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza Strip.

Palestinian Health Ministry said a Palestinian was shot dead in Jenin, in rrn part of occupied West Bank, and three ors were killed in Biddu, rth of Jerusalem.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said in a statement that Israeli security forces in West Bank operated against Hamas operatives “that were about to execute terror attacks in very immediate future.” Israeli military said that troops involved in arrests in West Bank came under attack as Palestinian gunmen fired on soldiers. It declined to provide furr information.