Israeli troops kill three Palestinian militants in gun battle near Jenin

Four Israeli soldiers wounded in clash that heightens fears of more violence during Ramadan

Israeli security forces search Palestinian homes in Yabad village near Jenin in the occupied West Bank on Thursday. EPA

Israeli forces killed three members of the Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad during a raid in the occupied West Bank on Saturday, raising fears of a further escalation of violence during Ramadan.

Israel's police said the three militants opened fire when troops tried to arrest them near the northern city of Jenin. They were killed during a shoot-out, in which four soldiers were wounded, one seriously.

The Israeli forces intercepted “a terrorist cell on its way to an attack and stopped the car in which they were travelling between Jenin and Tulkarem”, police said.

Islamic Jihad confirmed the deaths of its fighters. It said two of them were from Jenin and one from Tulkarem.

Tension has soared in after Palestinian assailants killed 11 Israelis in three attacks across the country since last week. Two of the attacks were claimed by ISIS.

In response, Israel sent more forces to the West Bank in recent days for searches, patrols and arrest raids.

Saturday's deaths raised to seven the number of Palestinians killed over three days, including two in a gun battle on Thursday and one after he stabbed and wounded an Israeli on a bus in the West Bank.

On Friday, a Palestinian man was killed by troops in the West Bank city of Hebron during clashes that erupted after mosque prayers. The Israeli military said its forces shot a Palestinian who threw a firebomb at them.

Ramadan has often been a period of increased friction and confrontation between Israel and Palestinians, who are seeking a separate state comprising the West Bank and the coastal enclave of Gaza, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Israeli, Palestinian and Jordanian leaders have held a flurry of talks in recent weeks, and Israel has made goodwill gestures to calm tension for Ramadan.

Last year, protests and clashes in Jerusalem during the holy month triggered an 11-day war in Gaza and Jewish-Arab violence in Israel's mixed cities.

Ramadan 2022 at Al Aqsa Mosque — in pictures

An Israeli soldier on guard at one of the entrances to Al Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem's Old City, next to a shop selling Ramadan decorations. AFP

An Orthodox Jewish man walks past a shop selling Ramadan fanous lanterns near one of the entrances to Al Aqsa Mosque. EP

Palestinians and security forces near one of the mosque's entrances. EPA

Palestinians in an alley leading to one of the mosque's entrances. EPA

A Palestinian mother and child near one of the mosque's entrances. EPA

A shop owner arranges fanous lanterns. EPA

A customer admires a fanous lantern in a shop near Al Aqsa mosque as Ramadan approaches. EPA

Ramadan decorations on display outside the Al Aqsa Mosque's courtyard. EPA

A varity of lanterns on sale near the Jerusalem mosque. EPA

Palestinians take part in Friday prayers at Al Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan last year. AFP

Sweets for sale outside Al Aqsa Mosque. EPA

Israeli security forces check Palestinians going into Al Aqsa Mosque for Friday prayers on the eve of Ramadan. AFP

An Israeli soldier stands guard as tensions run high before the holy month. AFP

Palestinian men read the Quran at Al Aqsa Mosque. AFP

Palestinian women pray at the mosque during Ramadan last year. AFP

Palestinian worshippers pray outside the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem's Al Aqsa Mosque compound. AFP

Israeli police officers check the bag of a Palestinian woman entering Al Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan last year. AFP

Worshippers pray outside the Dome of the Rock on the last Friday of Ramadan last year. AFP

Muslim children celebrate in front of the Dome of the Rock after the morning Eid Al Fitr prayer, which marks the end of Ramadan, on May 13, 2021. AFP