Israel-Palestine Highlights | One killed, several injured in Tel Aviv attack

Israel's Foreign Ministry said on Friday that one person was killed and several were wounded in a Tel Aviv terror attack. According to the Magen David Adom ambulance service, it had treated at least one person with a gunshot wound. 

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday (April 7) that Moscow is in favour of resuming multilateral negotiations to find a solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict, which would involve the Quartet on the Middle East and the Arab League. Read more

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday visited the scene of a shooting attack that killed two women in the Jordan Valley in the occupied West Bank. 

"I can only say one thing, our enemies are putting us to the test again, and once again they will discover, even in this test, that we stand together, united, confident in our righteousness, and we will act together, with the complete support to our forces, the IDF and the security forces, who also work on the holidays to ensure the security of our citizens and the security of our homelands. And together, united, we will succeed," Prime Minister Netanyahu said, the news agency Reuters reported. 

The two Israeli sisters killed in a shooting earlier on Friday in what Israel calls the Jordan Valley in the West Bank were also British nationals, Sky News reported, citing a UK official.

Their family is believed to have moved to Israel some 20 years ago, the news site says.

Israel Defence Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi convened a meeting to assess the situation on Friday afternoon, following which he ordered the call up of some reserves, emphasising air defense and offensive formations in the Air Force.

Christians gathered in Iqrit, a destroyed town near Israel's border with Lebanon to mark Easter. 

There had been doubts the pilgrimage would happen at all after militants in Lebanon and the Israeli military had traded fire across the nearby frontier hours earlier.

"All the families of our village and their children come here on Good Friday to visit (our loved ones buried here) and our parents and to pray," said Father Souhail Khoury at the village cemetery, as people laid flowers.

Russia said on Friday that it was "deeply" concerned over the situation in Israel, Palestine and Lebanon and asked the countries to end "escalation" of violence. 

"We call on the parties involved in the conflict to refrain from confrontational steps, to act in the interests of preventing further escalation, ending violence and restoring a sustainable ceasefire," the foreign ministry said. 
 

Israel on Friday called on the United Nations Security Council to issue a condemnation against Lebanon and Hamas for the rocket fire against Israel .

France issued a statement in the aftermath of Friday's events saying it supports Israel's 'security' and Lebanon's 'sovereignty'. It called upon all parties to show 'maximum restraint' and avoid 'escalation'. 

Israel launched missile strikes on Lebanon and Gaza Strip after the Palestine side fired rockets from the region. According to Israeli media, it was the biggest salvo of fire from Lebanon since Jerusalem fought the 34-day war with the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah in 2006.

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Turkish defence minister issued a statement saying, “Israel carried out indiscriminate attacks on the Gaza Strip last night, using disproportionate force. We strongly condemn these attacks."

“This aggressive attitude, which ignores human rights and universal values, further increases tension in the region. It is clear that these attacks will harm regional peace."

According to reports, the Israeli army has swung into action by sweeping the area, blocking the roads and launching a manhunt for the assailant. 

Two Israeli women were killed while a third was seriously injured in a shooting attack after a gunman opened fire on a vehicle in West Bank.

“A shooting attack was carried out on a vehicle at the Hamra Junction. IDF [Israel Defense Force] soldiers are searching the area,” the military said in a statement.