Palestinians in the village of Susiya in the Israeli-occupied West Bank thought life could not get worse as Jewish settlers were attacking them repeatedly and ripping apart their precious olive groves.

Khamis Ayyad, 40, died of smoke inhalation after settlers set fire to vehicles in town of Silwad, Health Ministry says.

Palestinians in the occupied West Bank town of Silwad declared a general strike after two residents were gunned down by Israeli forces during a wave of violent settler raids backed by the military.