Four Palestinians, one Israeli killed in violence in village near Nablus

Four Palestinians were killed Friday in violence in the village of Tel, southwest of Nablus in the occupied West Bank, as well as an Israeli, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowing to respond "with firmness" after what he described as an "attack."

The circumstances of the incident remain disputed.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said four Palestinians were killed in the neighboring village of Tel and four others were wounded, three of them critically. Palestinian authorities said residents of Tel had been attacked by Israeli civilians.

The Israeli military said troops were deployed after reports of an attack on Israeli civilians hiking near the settlement of Havat Gilad. According to the military, the assailants seized a weapon from a member of the security forces who arrived at the scene, then opened fire on the hikers, prompting soldiers to return fire.

Magen David Adom, Israel's emergency service, said a man in his 30s was pronounced dead near the settlement. Two people in their 20s who were wounded by gunfire were evacuated by helicopter, one in serious condition. An AFP journalist reported that roadblocks had been set up in the area, and the military said troops fired at the fleeing assailants.

According to a statement from his office, Netanyahu said his government would act "with firmness against the terrorists and their sponsors." He added that he would convene a meeting with security officials to "discuss ways to respond to the deadly attack."

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called on the military to act "with an iron fist" against "the village of the murderers and its surroundings," without providing further details.

Violence in the occupied West Bank has sharply intensified since the start of the war on Gaza in October 2023.