UPDATE – 3 Israelis injured in drive-by shooting in West Bank

UPDATES WITH MORE DETAILS

By Ibrahim Sipahi

ISTANBUL (AA) – Three Israeli settlers were injured in a drive-by shooting on Sunday in the occupied West Bank, according to the military.

In a statement, the army said the settlers’ car came under fire from a Palestinian vehicle close to the Tekoa Israeli military post, near Bethlehem city.

One Israeli was in serious condition, while the other two were lightly injured in the attack, the Magen David Adom ambulance service said.

There was no claim of responsibility for the attack.

The Israeli army launched a manhunt for the attackers.

Shortly after the attack, the Israeli army staged a military raid into the city of Bethlehem.

A military statement said Israeli forces detained two suspects and seized an M-16 rifle and the car used in the shooting attack.

For its part, the Palestinian Health Ministry said four Palestinians were injured by Israeli army fire and one by a gas canister during the raid in Bethlehem.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said its medics treated 35 Palestinians who suffered temporary asphyxiation from tear gas canisters fired by Israeli forces along with two people who were shot by rubber-coated bullets.

Tensions have been running high across the occupied West Bank in recent months amid repeated Israeli raids into Palestinian towns.

Nearly 195 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces since the start of this year, according to the Health Ministry. At least 27 Israelis have also been killed in separate attacks during the same period.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar