Israeli killed in northern occupied West Bank attack

JERUSALEM

An Israeli settler was killed Thursday when someone opened fire on his car near an Israeli outpost settlement in the northern occupied West Bank.

The Israeli official KAN channel cited an Israeli medical source who confirmed the death in the shooting near the Homesh outpost, west of Nablus. Two other Israelis are being treated for injuries.

The channel said a speeding car opened fire on the settlers' car that caused injuries to three Israelis inside, with one later pronounced dead.

The car that produced the gunshots escaped the area.

It added that large numbers of Israeli army reinforcements rushed to the area and started a search for the attackers.

Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz said Israeli forces are on high alert following the attack and vowed to "catch the perpetrator."

Palestinian Hamas group's spokesman Hazem Qassem hailed the "heroic" attack and said it was "against the (Israeli) occupation forces and the murderous settlers."

The Homesh outpost, which was built on Palestinian lands in the Burqa and Silat ad-Daher villages, was evacuated by the Israeli authorities in 2005 but Israeli settlers make a regular presence in the area.

Under international law, all Jewish settlements in occupied territories are illegal.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar in Ankara