RAMALLAH, West Bank, September 26 (Reuters) – Israeli forces killed at least four Palestinians on Sunday in a raid in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian health ministry said.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, in a statement, said Israeli forces had mounted an operation against “Hamas terrorists who were about to carry out imminent terrorist attacks.”

He made no mention of casualties and an Israeli military spokesperson made no immediate comment on the raids.

Israeli officials have long been concerned that Hamas, which manages the Gaza Strip, intends to strengthen itself in the West Bank and challenge its rival, the West-backed Palestinian Authority (PA).

The Palestinian Authority’s health ministry said three Palestinians were killed in the West Bank village of Biddu, northwest of Jerusalem. He said another Palestinian was killed in Burqin, a village near the Palestinian city of Jenin.

Reports on major Israeli radio stations and news sites indicated that at least four militants were killed in raids on several locations in the West Bank aimed at capturing Hamas operatives.

Reporting by Ali Sawafta Editing by Jeffrey Heller

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