From correspondents in Middle East, 06:31 PM IST

Israeli forces Tuesday killed a member of Palestinian Fatah's military in the West Bank city of Jenin, witnesses said.

The witnesses said that a group of Israeli soldiers forced Ashraf Hanaysha, 35, to stop his car and then shot directly at his body, killing him on the spot.

The troops also arrested three people who were accompanying Hanaysha, member of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades of Fatah.

The incident comes hours after the brigades claimed responsibility for wounding four Israeli settlers in drive-by shooting near Ramallah city in the West Bank.

In a statement faxed to the press, the brigades said the shooting was in response to the ongoing Israeli attacks against the Palestinians.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)