Jerusalem: The latest in months of violence between Israel and the Palestinians left two soldiers wounded, one critically, on Saturday night in a drive-by shooting in the occupied West Bank, according to the Israeli military.
In less than a month, there have been three attacks in the Palestinian town of Hawara. The military reported that one soldier was in critical condition and the other was in a stable condition. As forces closed off the access roads to Hawara, a manhunt was started.
The militant organisation Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, applauded the shooting attack even though no Palestinian organisation claimed responsibility for it. According to Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem, "the resistance in the West Bank can surprise the occupation every time and the occupation cannot enjoy safety."
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With almost daily Israeli arrest raids in Palestinian-controlled areas and a wave of Palestinian attacks, violence has increased recently in the West Bank and east Jerusalem.
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Israeli and Palestinian officials met in Jordan and Egypt, respectively, as a result of regional efforts supported by the US to defuse tensions. The parties hoped to avoid further escalation during the holy fasting month of Ramadan.
When Israeli and Palestinian officials met in Aqaba, Jordan, on February 27, a Palestinian gunman in Hawara shot and killed two Israelis. As the parties gathered once more in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, another shooting incident occurred in Hawara, injuring two Israelis.
According to a count by the Associated Press, 86 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli or settler fire this year. In the same time frame, 15 Israelis have been killed by Palestinian attacks.
According to Israel, the majority of those killed were militants. However, individuals not involved in the altercations as well as youths throwing stones in protest of the incursions have also died.
In the 1967 Middle East conflict, Israel seized control of the West Bank, east Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip. Those territories are what the Palestinians want for their future independent state.