RAMALLAH, March 2 (Xinhua) -- Two Palestinian men were shot dead on Monday by Israeli settlers in the southern area of the West Bank city of Nablus, the Ramallah-based Palestinian health ministry said.
The ministry identified the victims as Mohammed and Faheem Taha Muammar, aged 52 and 48, and said the incident took place in the village of Qaryut.
Palestinian sources and eyewitnesses said settlers opened fire at homes in the southern part of the village, shooting at residents and buildings.
The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said its teams treated five people wounded by live fire, including the two men who were later pronounced dead. Others injured included a 30-year-old man shot in the shoulder, a 32-year-old man in the knee, and a 15-year-old boy in the shoulder.
There was no immediate comment from Israeli authorities.
The West Bank, occupied by Israel since 1967, is home to more than 500,000 Israeli settlers and about 3.4 million Palestinians. Clashes between settlers and Palestinians periodically escalate into violence, Palestinian and Israeli sources say. ■
