Ramallah: The killing of four Palestinians by Israeli forces in the West Bank has been condemned as an "extrajudicial execution" and a "war crime" by human rights groups.
Three of the victims were shot dead during a military operation in the old city of Nablus, while a fourth, a young woman, was killed at a checkpoint south of the city.
The Israeli army said two of the three men were responsible for killing three Israeli settlers in the Jordan Valley weeks ago, and claimed the woman had attempted a stabbing attack. Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh has called on the EU to pressure Israel to stop killing Palestinians.
The deaths bring the number of Palestinians killed by Israelis since the beginning of the year to 108, including 20 children and one woman. The Palestinian Ministry of Health said two of the bodies were badly disfigured due to the intensity of the Israeli fire.
Shawan Jabarin, head of the Al-Haq human rights organization in Ramallah, said the Israeli army's action was "premeditated killing," and accused them of not caring whether they killed civilians who were not involved in the matter. He said the matter was painful because there was still no local, regional or international body investigating Israeli abuses and extrajudicial killings of Palestinians.
Taysir Nasrallah, a member of the Fatah Revolutionary Council in Nablus, condemned the Israeli army's deployment of snipers on the roofs of neighbouring buildings and the use of drones that fired shells at the targeted house, destroying it. He called on the Palestinian Authority not to participate in a security meeting in the Egyptian resort of Sharm El-Sheikh.
The operation began at 7:20 a.m., leaving workers and students exposed to the dangers of being caught in a crossfire. Schools delayed classes until the Israeli forces left the city, fearing for students' lives.
The killing of Palestinians by Israeli forces has long been a contentious issue in the region, with many accusing Israel of using excessive force and violating international law. The Israeli government, however, argues that it has a right to defend itself against attacks by Palestinian militants.
The latest killings are likely to escalate tensions in the region and make it even more difficult to find a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.