Hamas claims responsibility for the death of an Israeli in an attack near a settlement in the West Bank

July 6 (EUROPA PRESS) –

The armed wing of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), the Ezeldin al-Qassam Brigades, claimed responsibility for the death of an Israeli citizen in an attack near the Kedumim settlement in the northern West Bank on Thursday.

The group has indicated in a statement that the “heroic” attack is a “response to Israel’s operation in Jenin”, which left twelve Palestinians dead and more than a hundred injured, as well as other attacks carried out against Palestinians in West Bank.

In addition, he has threatened the Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, who lives in Kedumim. “The brigades almost knocked on your door,” he asserted, according to information from the newspaper ‘The Times of Israel’.

The death of the Israeli, who was shot several times in the vicinity of the Kedumim settlement, occurs in a week of tensions due to the two-day offensive launched by Israeli forces on the Jenin refugee camp.

The attacker, identified as a Palestinian, initially fled aboard a vehicle that was intercepted shortly after. The Israel Defense Forces intercepted him and the suspect opened fire, starting a chase in which he was “neutralized”, according to the authorities, who have confirmed his death.

The increase in tensions in recent months has resulted in the death of more than 185 Palestinians and 25 Israelis, while it is feared that there could be a general outbreak of violence, especially as a result of the offensive on Jenin.