Palestine (AA, Maan Nwes Agency, imemc.org): Two Palestinians were killed and injured a third by Israeli forces Tuesday near Deir al-Hatab village, east of Nablus in the northern occupied West Bank.

A military statement said military post came under fire from a speeding vehicle near the settlement of Elon Moreh, east of Nablus city.

Israeli forces opened fire on the car and neutralized two attackers, while a third was injured but fled the scene, the statement said.

Three M1 rifles and two handguns were seized, the statement said.

Ahmed Jibril, the Director of the Palestinian Red Crescent ambulance, stated the army prevented medical crews from approaching the two critically injured young men, reported imemc.org.

The Palestinian Health Ministry identified the two slain Palestinians as So’oud al-Titi and Mohammad Abu Thera.

Saud is an officer with the Palestinian National Security while Mohammad was a member of the Al-Aqsa Brigades the armed wing of the Fateh Movement, from Nablus.

Saud is a former political prisoner who was imprisoned by Israel for 16 years, and Mohammad was imprisoned for seven years.

On Monday, Israeli forces shot and killed Mohammad Fayez Balhan, 15, with live rounds to the head, abdomen, and pelvis.

98 Palestinians, including 18 children have been killed by Israeli forces since the beginning of the year. Seventeen Israelis have also been killed in separate attacks during the same period.

Tensions have been running high across the occupied West Bank in recent months amid repeated Israeli raids into Palestinian towns.

[Photo: Relatives of 15-year-old Palestinian Mohammed Bilhan mourn during his funeral after he was killed by Israeli forces during the raid at Aqabat Jaber camp in Jericho, West Bank on April 10, 2023. Photojournalist: Issam Rimawi/AA]