Palestinian resistance movement Hamas made a call on 16 August for a general strike in response to the murder of four young Palestinians by Israeli occupation forces in the West Bank city of Jenin.

According to witnesses, the four victims were killed early on Monday during a raid on a refugee camp that turned into a gunfight. The Governor of Jenin also confirmed that two of the bodies were confiscated by Israeli police.

Hamas spokesman Hazem Qasem said in a press release: “We mourn the martyrs of Jenin who died at dawn today after a heroic confrontation with the Israeli occupation forces who stormed the camp,” before calling for a general strike across occupied Palestine.

Eyewitnesses also reported that Israeli forces arrested the young men right after they’d been shot, despite paramedics attempting to treat their wounds.

The violence reportedly started when Israeli snipers began shooting at Palestinians from the rooftops of two buildings. In response, a number of young Palestinians, including the victims, began firing back.

For their part, Israeli occupation forces claimed they came under fire while looking to arrest a Palestinian suspected of involvement in alleged terrorist activities.

The office of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas also issued a statement condemning the killings, saying “We express the presidency’s strong anger and condemnation of this heinous crime, and we affirm that the continuation of this Israeli policy will lead to an explosion in the situation and to more tension and instability.”

The statement goes on to call on the US and the international community to pressure Tel Aviv to cease its attacks on Palestinian civilians.