Israeli forces kill two Palestinian gunmen, critically wound third attacking West Bank base

The attack happened at the Salem base outside the occupied West Bank town of Jenin.
2 min read
The attack on the Salem base follows other shootings [AFP/Getty]
Israeli security forces killed two gunmen and critically wounded a third on Friday after they opened fire on a base in the occupied West Bank, Israeli police said.

The exchange of fire at the Salem base outside the northern West Bank town of Jenin followed other shootings, and came amid reported violence by Israeli authorities as protests continue in illegally annexed East Jerusalem over an eviction threat hanging over four Palestinian families.

"Three terrorists fired towards the Salem border police base," a statement from the force said.

Guards returned fire and two of the attackers were pronounced dead, while the third was taken to hospital in Israel in a "critical condition".

Read more: Sheikh Jarrah protests continue as far-right Israeli lawmaker visits

Three firearms and three knives were recovered from the attackers, the border police said. A large supply of ammunition was also found on one of them.

There was no immediate word on the identity of the attackers or any claim of responsibility.

This comes amid a period of increased violence in the region.

On Sunday, a 19-year-old Israeli was fatally wounded in a drive-by shooting at the Tapuah junction bus stop, also in the northern West Bank.

Montasser Shalabi, 44, a US dual national, has now been arrested on suspicion of carrying out the attack.

In late April, a Jewish supremacist organisation arranged a march through occupied Jerusalem where extremists chanted "Death to Arabs".

Three cars were also set ablaze in the Palestinian village of Beit Iksa last month by a suspected incursion of Israeli settlers.

Racist grafitti was also sprayed on the road.

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