RESTRICTION SUMMARY: Jerusalem, 26 Sebtember 2021. Palestinians gather at the site where three Palestinian where killed during clashes with Israeli forces in the village of Beit Anan in northwest Jerusalem.

0.1 SOUNDBITE (in Arabic) Ayed Shamasneh, an eyewitness.

STORYLINE:

An Israeli operation to dismantle a Hamas Islamist cell in the West Bank sparked fierce gun battles at multiple locations, killing four Palestinians, Israel's army and Palestinian official sources said.

Three Palestinians were shot dead by the Israeli forces in an attack early today morning which targeted a house in the village of Beit Anan, to the northwest of Jerusalem, the Ministry of Health has confirmed.

Witnesses told WAFA that the Israeli army sealed off a house in the village and embarked on firing grenades, bombs and gunfire at it, and that explosions were heard during the raid.

A video which was shared on the social media showed Israeli soldiers taking away a body believed to belong to a Palestinian young man whom they killed during the attack, shortly before MoH confirmed that the total number of victims was three.

The three victims were identified as Ahmad Zahran, Mahmoud Hmeidan and Zakaria Badwan.

The Israeli forces sealed off the village and declared it a closed military zone in the aftermath of the deadly attack.

A one-day general strike was declared in the villages of Beit Anan and Biddu.

Footage by APAwire