Deadly Confrontation: Palestinian Gunmen Slain in Proximity to West Bank Samaritan Community

Three Palestinian gunmen were shot dead by Israeli soldiers near Nablus in the occupied West Bank after opening fire on them. The incident occurred while the soldiers were guarding the Samaritans, a small community with origins tracing back to biblical Israelite tribes. The area has seen escalating Israeli-Palestinian tensions, with over 160 Palestinians and 30 Israelis killed this year. The Samaritans, who hold both Israeli and Palestinian citizenship, practice a religion rooted in Judaism but with its own customs and beliefs.