A Palestinian ambulance driver was killed on his way to evacuate wounded from a raid by violent Jewish settlers, and at least 12 Palestinians were killed in a separate incident in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian authorities said today.

Violence in the West Bank was already escalating before the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza began in October. It was further increased by frequent Israeli raids, Palestinian street attacks, and Jewish settler attacks on Palestinian villages.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said the 50-year-old ambulance driver was killed by Israeli fire near the village of Al-Sawiya, south of the city of Nablus, as he was driving the ambulance to transport wounded from the attack in the village.

It was not immediately clear if he was shot by settlers. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military.

In a separate incident in the Noor Shams area, near the Palestinian town of Tulkarem, health authorities said at least 12 Palestinians, two of whom were identified by Palestinian sources and officials as a gunman and a 16-year-old boy, were killed during a raid by Israeli forces. .

A number of militants were killed or captured, the Israeli military said, and at least four soldiers were wounded in the exchange of fire.

The Tulkarem Brigades, which includes fighters from several Palestinian factions, said its fighters were still exchanging fire with Israeli forces today. At least three drones were seen flying over Nur Shams, where Israeli army vehicles had gathered and gunfire could be heard.