Israeli killed in shooting attack near West Bank settlement

An Israeli civilian was shot dead on Tuesday near a Jewish settlement in the northern occupied West Bank, medics and military officials said.

The Israeli military said the man, identified as Meir Tamari, was shot several times while driving towards the entrance of Hermesh settlement. Tamari, 32, was a resident of the settlement, southwest of Jenin, according to local officials.

It also said troops were searching for two assailants, without identifying them, and have erected barriers in the surrounding area.

An affiliate of the Fatah-linked al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades said it had carried out the attack to avenge Palestinians killed by Israel.

Israeli settlers have called for protests in the West Bank later on Tuesday.

The office of Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said he would "hold a situation assessment together with senior officials in the defence establishment" following the shooting.

Earlier on Tuesday, Israeli forces detained five Palestinians during multiple raids in the West Bank.

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The incidents come as Israel's far-right government increasingly adopts pro-settlement policies in the West Bank, the Naqab (Negev) and the Galilee, to the detriment of Palestinians and Palestinians with Israeli citizenship.

Around 700,000 Israelis now live in settlements in the West Bank and occupied East Jerusalem, which are considered illegal by the international community.

Last week, Israeli settlers from Adei Ad settlement, northeast of Ramallah, attacked Palestinian farmers working their land between Turmus Ayya and al-Mughayyir villages, in the central West Bank.

Settlers threw stones and fired bullets at farmers, wounding at least five people.

Meanwhile, Israeli troops have also been carrying out near-daily raids in the West Bank since the beginning of the year. 

At least 117 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces since January, and a total of 19 Israelis have been killed by Palestinians over the same period.