The Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement claimed responsibility for an attack that killed two Israeli brothers on Sunday, the same day the government of Jordan announced that officials from Israel and Palestine met to de-escalate tensions on the ground.
Hillel Menachem Yaniv, 22, and Yagel Yaakov Yaniv, 20, were driving through the Arab village of Huwara on Sunday when a gunman opened fire with a handgun, killing both brothers. Law enforcement is still searching for a suspect, according to Israel National News.
Al-Quds Brigade, a Palestinian militant organization funded mostly by Iran, said as translated that the "Jihad confirmed that the operation came in fulfillment of the resistance's promise to avenge the blood of the leaders of the Al-Quds Brigades."
At least two of the group's fighters were killed last week in an Israeli counterterrorism raid in the Palestinian city of Nablus.
Officials from Israel and the Palestinian Authority held an emergency summit Sunday in Aqaba, Jordan, to discuss de-escalating tensions in the region, Jordan's Foreign Ministry said, according to The Associated Press.
While some reports signaled that Israel would scale back its activities in the West Bank, Israeli National Security Council Director Tzachi Hanegbi said: "Contrary to reports and tweets about the meeting in Jordan, there is no change in Israeli policy. In the coming months, the State of Israel will authorize nine outposts and approve 9,500 new housing units in Judea and Samaria. There is no construction freeze or change in the status quo on the Temple Mount; neither is there any restriction on IDF activity."
The Palestinian Authority stands strongly against Jews living in the West Bank, traditionally known as Judea and Samaria. The Palestinian government is also calling for a restriction of the Israeli Defense Force's counterterrorism activity. Many Palestinians have additionally called for Jews to stop praying at the Muslim-controlled Temple Mount, which is the holiest site in Judaism and the third holiest site in Islam.
Thirteen Israelis have been killed so far this year in terrorist attacks in Israel.
Related Story: Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad Meet in Beirut, Vow to Strengthen Cooperation
