Four Palestinian assailants killed by Israeli forces

Israeli forces shot dead four Palestinian attackers after they tried to stab Israeli soldiers in two separate incidents in the occupied West Bank, international media report.

According to international media, the three attackers were killed at Gush Etzion Junction, where similar incidents have occurred, and the fourth was killed near Hebron.

Palestinian health officials confirmed the deaths, and added that no soldiers were injured in the incidents.

Palestinian media named the three as Muhanad Kawazbeh, 20, Ahmed Kawazbeh, 21, and Alaa Kawazbeh, 20, all from the village of Sair, north-east of Hebron. It added that shortly afterward the first attack, a Palestinian was shot while he tried to stab soldiers near Hebron. The ma was later named as 16-year-old Khalil Shalalda, also from Sair.

The BBC reports that the attack is the latest in a wave of attacks, mainly stabbings, by Palestinians on Israelis since the start of October, with twenty-two Israelis killed in attacks including stabbings, car rammings and shootings since that time.

According to reports, the Islamist group, Hamas, which controls Gaza, has called for a "day of rage" on Friday in response to the Palestinian deaths.

The Palestinian health ministry says 149 Palestinians have also been killed since October, with over half of attackers said to be from Israel.