The Israeli army reported on Sunday that three Palestinian militants were killed after firing at Israeli soldiers in the northern occupied West Bank near Nablus, as violence persisted in the region.

According to the military, "gunmen opened fire" on soldiers at an army post near the Jit intersection west of Nablus, prompting soldiers to reply with "live fire."

"Three armed shooters were neutralized during the exchange of fire, and a fourth gunman surrendered and was detained," according to an army statement.

Since Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returned to office in December in a coalition government with ultra-Orthodox Jewish and far-right partners, violence in the West Bank has risen.

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has claimed the lives of 81 Palestinian adults and children, including terrorists and civilians, since the beginning of the year.

According to a tally compiled by AFP based on official sources from both sides, twelve Israeli civilians, including three children and one police officer, and one Ukrainian civilian, were killed within the same period.