Israeli security forces kill three Palestinian gunmen following escalation in West Bank 
ERBIL, Iraq (North Press) – Israeli security forces announced on Saturday they had killed three Palestinian gunmen in the West Bank.
The police described the group as a “terrorist sleeper cell” that had participated in operations against the security forces lately and “appeared to be on its way to launch another attack” as they put it.
“This is a terrorist cell that has been involved in terrorist activities against security forces recently, and was apparently on its way to another attack,” the police added.
The incident witnessed no immediate comments by Palestinian officials.
The incident came after tension escalated last week following a series of deadly attacks in Israel.
The Israeli army raised its readiness and mobilized more soldiers following a Palestinian’s attack that killed five people, including two Ukrainians, on March 31 in the Beni Brak neighborhood near Tel Aviv.
The attack raised the number of the Israeli people killed by Arab attackers last week to 11.
Israeli officials warned of a potential escalation during the month of Ramadan up until Eid al-Fitr, a period during which violence has surged in the past.
On March 29, the Palestinian Ministry of Health announced that a 17-year-old guy was shot dead by Israeli forces during their raid of Jenin in the West Bank.
Palestinian websites said the attacker was Diaa Hamarcha, a resident of Jenin and a “released captive” from Israeli prisons.
The attack came two days after another one that killed two border guard officers and injured three more in Hadera, a city located 50 Kilometers north of Tel Aviv.
The Hadera attack was adopted by the Islamic state organization (ISIS), but Hezbollah praised the operation and ascribed it to rebels.
Last week, four Israelis were stabbed and run over to death in the southern city of Be’er Sheva.
The escalation coincided with Negev Summit which was attended by the foreign ministers of Israel, US, Egypt, Morocco, UAE and Bahrain, and was concluded on March 22.