Israel kills two Palestinians in the West Bank as the military focuses on a major crackdown during Gaza ceasefire.

In the days since a fragile ceasefire took hold in the Gaza Strip, Israel has launched a major military operation in the occupied West Bank and suspected Jewish settlers have rampaged through two Palestinian towns.

As Israel withdraws some of its troops from Gaza during a cease-fire there, it has turned attention to another Palestinian territory — in particular a city with a history of militant activity.

Israel killed two Palestinians in the northern West Bank overnight and into Wednesday, the occupied territory's Heath Ministry said, as the Israeli military focuses on a major crackdown there during the ceasefire in Gaza.

The Israeli military and Hamas said Monday that an air strike killed two fighters from the Palestinian Islamist movement in the occupied West Bank city of Tulkarem. Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967.