Four Israelis shot dead near settlement in West Bank

A gunman killed four Israelis on Tuesday near a settlement in the illegally occupied West Bank, Israeli medics said.

"Four confirmed deceased by MDA paramedics", the Israeli Magen David Adom emergency services said in a statement, adding that four others were also wounded in the shooting near Eli settlement, in the northern West Bank.

The identity of the shooter was not immediately known.

Labn Sharkiya, Ramallah

4 Israeli settlers killed and 4 more injured (1 gravely) by a Palestinian militant cell near the illegal outpost of Eli.

The attack occured on the main 60 road and targeted settlers at Ilyahu resturant for Hummus and the gas station adjacent to it. pic.twitter.com/RSPwfRqfFo

— Younis | يونس (@ytirawi) June 20, 2023

However, the Israeli military have since said that forces were searching for one gunman after another had been "neutralized" at the scene. Israel's Channel 12 news said the gunman was shot dead. Palestinian officials did not immediately comment. 

The office of Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant described the incident as a "terror attack" and said security officials will meet at 6:00 pm (1500 GMT).

The shooting comes a day after Israeli forces launched a deadly raid in the West Bank city of Jenin, in which six Palestinians were killed.

Another Palestinian was killed late on Monday in West Bank town of Husan during clashes with the Israeli military. 

A spokesman for the Palestinian militant group Hamas, Hazem Qassem, described Tuesday's shooting as a "response to the crimes of the (Israeli) occupation" in Jenin and elsewhere.

Israel has occupied the West Bank since the 1967 Arab-Israeli and its forces frequently carry out deadly raids on Palestinian towns and cities. 

The Palestinian health ministry says 170 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip since the start of this year.