Israel launches military operation in West Bank amidst escalating settler violence against Palestinians

Four Palestinians and two Israeli soldiers were killed near a Palestinian village on Friday in a confrontation that added to a growing toll over recent weeks as Israeli settler violence has intensified against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.

The incident near the village of Tal, southwest of Nablus, took place as settler attacks on Palestinian villages have increased sharply since the start of the year, according to figures from the United Nations.

Israel's military said it had received reports that Israeli civilians who were hiking in the area had been attacked near the village, in the so-called Area A of the West Bank. The area is under Palestinian Authority civil and security control and Israelis are officially prohibited from entering.

The military said a Palestinian man took a weapon from Israeli security personnel from the nearby settlement of Havat Gilad and opened fire, wounding several Israelis before being killed. It said four Palestinians had been killed.

Local Palestinian officials said a large group of Israeli settlers had tried to break into two houses and were then confronted by villagers.

Israeli military prepares for major operation

On Friday, Israeli troops set up roadblocks in the area around Tal and Nablus and said they were pursuing individuals involved in the incident. The military said it was preparing for "extensive counterterrorism operational activity in the sector" and had cancelled leave.

Hardline Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said nearby Palestinian villages should be cleared of their inhabitants and new settlements built to establish security.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had conducted a security assessment into the incident, along with the defense minister and the military's chief of staff.

Three months before Israelis go to the polls, Netanyahu's pro-settler government has stepped up preparations to expand settlements in the West Bank, which Israel has occupied since 1967.

In a separate incident, the Palestinian Authority (PA) foreign ministry said settlers had attacked a village near the city of Qalqilya, wounding two people and setting fire to trees and cars. The Israeli military was not immediately available for comment.

According to figures from the PA, Israel has killed 87 Palestinians in the West Bank so far this year, the majority of whom were killed by the Israeli army, while 21 were killed by Israeli settlers. United Nations figures indicate some 850 Palestinians have been wounded in the context of attacks by Israeli settlers since the start of the year.

Essam Saifi, a local leader in the Palestinian Fatah party from Tal, told Reuters in a phone call that about 25 to 30 settlers initially attacked the eastern area of Tal and tried to break into two houses there.

When residents came out to confront them, he said the settlers opened fire before leaving.

Half an hour later, he said they returned and attacked the western part of the town, leading to a chaotic shootout that also involved the Israeli military.

Palestinian officials also said the Israeli military raided a hospital in Nablus on Friday and assaulted the medical staff in the emergency department. The Israeli military said it was looking into the reports.