Dozens of Israeli settlers, some wearing masks, have attacked a Palestinian village near the city of Qalqilya in the occupied West Bank, burning cars and killing at least one person.
The Palestinian health ministry said one Palestinian was killed and another critically wounded by Israeli settlers’ gunfire during the attack in the village of Jit, the latest in a series of attacks by violent settlers in the West Bank.
Footage shared on social media showed cars and houses on fire after the attacks.
The Israeli military said police and army units intervened and arrested one Israeli. It condemned the attack, which it said diverted security forces from other responsibilities.
It said it was examining reports about the death of the Palestinian.
The office of the prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, issued a statement saying he viewed the attack with “utmost severity”.
“Those responsible for any offence will be apprehended and tried,” it said.
Palestinians regularly accuse Israeli security forces of standing by and allowing groups of violent settlers to attack their houses and villages and the attacks have attracted increasing concern internationally.
The US and a number of European countries have imposed sanctions on violent settlers and called repeatedly on Israel to do more to curb the attacks.