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Tell clashes and deaths
Four Palestinians and two Israelis were killed in a shooting in the occupied West Bank near the northern village of Tal, according to the BBC, which said there were conflicting accounts of the sequence of events.
“The Israeli military has launched “counterterrorism” operations and ordered a curfew in the occupied West Bank following an outbreak of violence in which six people were killed”
The BBC reported that Palestinians told it residents confronted Jewish settlers who were attacking them, and that an eyewitness said soldiers then arrived and started shooting.
Israel’s military said it responded to reports that hikers had been attacked and added that it had “responded to reports that hikers had been attacked,” while also saying “terrorists stole the weapon” of a security guard and killed him before being killed by soldiers.
The BBC said the other three killed were members of the same Palestinian family, and that a second Israeli, a soldier, was also killed, with the Israel Defense Forces later preparing for “extensive counterterrorism operational activity in the sector.”
Clampdown and competing narratives
After the violence, the Israeli military launched “counterterrorism” operations and ordered a curfew in the occupied West Bank, according to Al Jazeera, which said six people were killed in the outbreak of violence.
Al Jazeera reported that Palestinian sources said the violence was sparked as Israeli settlers attacked the town of Tal, while the Israeli army said it had dispatched troops following “an attack on Israelis hiking in the area”.
In a phone call to Reuters, Essam Saifi said about 25 to 30 Israeli settlers initially attacked the eastern area of the town of Tal and tried to break into two houses, before returning and attacking the western part and striking a child with a weapon, according to Al Jazeera.
Al Jazeera also quoted the Palestinian foreign ministry condemning what it called “the massacre” and said it was “the escalation of settler terrorism is a direct consequence of the protection, political backing, and complete impunity granted by the Israeli government and occupation forces.”
What comes next in Nablus
The BBC said the Israel Defense Forces later said it was preparing for “extensive counterterrorism operational activity in the sector,” and it reported that roadblocks were set up and troops were searching for additional suspects after an AFP reporter observed the scene south-west of Nablus.
“Four Palestinians and two Israelis killed in West Bank shooting At least four Palestinians and two Israelis have been killed in a shooting in the occupied West Bank - the deadliest single incident there in months”
Al Jazeera said Israeli forces imposed a security cordon around Nablus and Tal and that “all checkpoints leading to Tal have been closed,” while its correspondent said the Israeli army generally prevented injured Palestinians from accessing medical help by setting up siege-like conditions.
Al Jazeera reported that Netanyahu pledged to respond firmly to the Israeli deaths and said his government would “accelerating the legalisation of farm outposts and establishment of new ones” in the West Bank, with Israeli settlements described as illegal under international law.
The BBC further reported that Netanyahu vowed to act “with full force against the terrorists and those who orchestrate and sponsor them,” and said his office issued a joint statement with Defence Minister Israel Katz saying the home of the Palestinian shooter in Tal would be demolished and that the legalisation of unauthorised settler outposts and the establishment of new ones would be speeded up.
