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Three Israeli soldiers were killed on Sunday and two others wounded in stabbing and shooting attacks believed to have been carried out by a Palestinian assailant in an illegal settlement in the occupied West Bank.

Israeli army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus said the attacks near the Ariel junction southwest of Nablus were carried out by someone who "appears to be Palestinian".

The incident began with the perpetrator stabbing a soldier near the illegal Ariel settlement, south of occupied Nablus.

"That same assailant fired with that weapon toward three vehicles," he said.

Medics said they evacuated two Israeli men, aged 16 and 20, to hospital, both of which suffering bullet wounds and confirmed to be in serious condition.

Conricus did not provide details on the identity of the person killed and fell short of providing details surrounding the nature of the attack, but Palestinian media say the casualties were soldiers. 

Israel has launched a manhunt for the assailants.

The army also did not say whether the suspected Palestinian assailant was affiliated with a militant group or had acted alone.

Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967. More than  live in settlements in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.

All Israeli settlements across the occupied West Bank are classed as illegal under international law, particularly article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which  that "the occupying power shall not deport or transfer parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies".

Israeli forces and settlers routinely attack Palestinians in the occupied territories, demolishing their homes, poisoning their livestock and vandalising their properties.

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