West Bank: Two Israelis killed near Huwara

(Patria) - Two Israelis were killed in an alleged Palestinian attack in the occupied West Bank, the Israeli army announced, reports the BBC.

This happened near the village of Huwara, which has been the scene of previous deadly attacks on Israelis and rampages by Jewish settlers in retaliation.

The shooting occurred at a car wash, Israeli media report. It was said that the attacker approached on foot and opened fire with a pistol.

Israeli emergency services say two men, aged around 30 and 60, were pronounced dead at the scene. Both were reportedly civilians. Israeli media have reported that the killed were father and son.

Palestinian militant groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad have praised the attack.

Meanwhile, the Israeli army has set up roadblocks nearby and is hunting for the attacker.

Huwara has long been a flashpoint in the West Bank. It is located on the main road south of Nablus, used by Palestinians and Israeli settlers.

In the past, Israelis sometimes shopped there, but this has become uncommon after a recent increase in violence.

This year, the village has seen several shooting attacks targeting Israeli settlers and soldiers - including the killing of two brothers in February.

This triggered a deadly rampage by a large mob of settlers in one of the worst such acts in recent years. There have been other instances of settler violence, the BBC concludes.