Israeli Forces Kill Two Palestinians in West Bank Clash

Military and medical officials reported that Israeli forces killed two Palestinians during a clash with armed individuals in the West Bank on Thursday. The Israeli army stated that the Palestinians were in a vehicle and fired shots at an Israeli vehicle near the town of Tulkarm. It added that after a chase, soldiers opened fire on the two men in an exchange of gunfire, and a rifle was found in their vehicle. Both Hamas and Islamic Jihad claimed that their members were engaged in fighting soldiers at the time. No group has yet confirmed the affiliation of the two Palestinians, who were 23 and 27 years old. The West Bank, one of the territories sought by Palestinians to establish their state, has witnessed a rise in violence in recent months amidst a continued stalemate in U.S.-brokered peace efforts.