In a statement on Monday, Hamas described the operation as “heroic” and a natural response to the crimes of the Zionist regime against the Palestinian people.

“This operation shows the faith of the Palestinian nation in the option of resistance to get rid of the occupation and realize freedom and independence,” the statement read.

“We invite the freedom-seeking and revolutionary heroes of the Palestinian nation in the West Bank and occupied al-Quds and all parts of Palestine to expand all-out resistance against the fascist enemy who understands nothing but the language of force,” it said.

The Gaza-based resistance movement also said the “rebellious Zionist enemy” must understand that all the occupation crimes and killings will not cause the Palestinian people to give up their efforts to achieve freedom and reclaim their land.

Israeli media reported that three settlers were seriously wounded in a knife attack on Sunday evening near a shopping center in the southern town of Gan Yavne in the occupied territories.