JERUSALEM, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) -- A Palestinian gunman shot and killed two Israelis and severely wounded two others in a drive-by shooting attack in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on Thursday, Israeli officials said.

The incident took place at a bus stop outside Givat Asaf, an illegal Israeli outpost northeast of Ramallah city, a military spokesperson said in a statement.

According to the statement, the shooter stepped out of a vehicle and opened fire at Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers and civilians who were standing at the bus station.

The military spokesperson said that at least two people were in the car, which fled the area right after the shooting.

Israeli medics told Xinhua over the phone that two of the victims were killed at the scene and two others were rushed to hospitals in Jerusalem with serious-to-critical injuries. All of the victims are people in their 20s.

The military then launched a manhunt. TV live broadcast from the scene showed large military forces at the junction, which is part of Route 60, a major road that runs through the West Bank.

Palestinian media reported that the car, a blue Mitsubishi, was located on the outskirts of Ramallah.

No group has assumed responsibility for the attack.

The attack sparked angry reactions in Israel. Deputy defense minister and lawmaker with the pro-settler party of the Jewish Home, Eli Dahan, said that Israel should react forcefully in order to "deter more attacks."

"The homes of the terrorists should be demolished to the ground and their families should be expelled from their hometowns," he told Channel 2 TV news.

The attack came four days after a similar drive-by shooting attack at a bus stop outside the settlement of Ofra, some 6 km north of Givat Assaf. Seven people were wounded. A baby of one of the injuries, who was delivered prematurely, has died on Wednesday.

The violence was the latest in a resurging string of attacks perpetrated by Palestinian individuals. Enditem

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