Israeli security forces say they have killed three alleged Palestinian militants in the north of the occupied West Bank, near the Jenin refugee camp.

The camp was the focus of a major military operation last month.

It marks a further escalation in a wave of violence over the weekend.

On Friday, armed Jewish settlers attacked a Palestinian village where a young Palestinian man was shot dead, while an Israeli security guard was killed in an attack in Tel Aviv.

In a statement, the army said the group was heading to carry out an attack and that an automatic rifle was found in their car.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the security forces, saying: "We will continue to take action - everywhere and at any moment - against those who seek to attack us."

The killings came the day after a Palestinian gunman fatally shot an Israeli security guard in Tel Aviv. Another guard shot and killed the attacker.

After the killing of three Palestinians on Sunday, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh said: "These horrific crimes in Jenin would not have taken place had the perpetrators not felt safe from punishment."

Palestinian armed groups condemned the killings, vowing for revenge.

"The enemy, which assassinated three of our Palestinian people, will not escape paying the price of its crimes," said a spokesperson for Hamas who rules Gaza.

The Islamic Jihad, which has members in Gaza and the West Bank, said: "The enemy will realise that its foolishness and terrorism will be met by a strong response from the resistance."

On Friday night, extremist settlers went on the rampage in a Palestinian village in the West Bank, killing a 19-year-old man. Israeli police say two settlers have been arrested.

The latest settler attack has been condemned as terrorism by Washington, its stronger language appearing to show increased frustration with the positions of Israel's far-right government.

Source:
courtesy of BBC NEWS

by Yolande Knell | BBC News, Jerusalem

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