JERUSALEM: Six Israelis were detained after they allegedly assaulted soldiers near the occupied West Bank town of Kafr Malik, where recent tensions with Palestinians have escalated.

The Israeli military issued a statement overnight Friday to Saturday detailing the incident, in which dozens of Israeli civilians threw stones and physically and verbally abused the soldiers, including a battalion commander.

Additionally, the crowd vandalized and damaged security forces' vehicles and attempted to ram them.

The security personnel dispersed the gathering and apprehended six individuals, transferring them to the Israel Police for further processing.

The Israeli military has not specified whether those arrested are residents of settlements within the territory, which has been under Israeli control since 1967.

Queries regarding this matter were referred to the Israeli police, who were unavailable for comment.

Separately, on Wednesday, three men died in Kafr Malik following an attack by settlers according to the Palestinian health ministry.

Several hundred people attended their funeral on Thursday.

The Palestinian foreign ministry accused Israel of 'official complicity' in the attack, alleging that Israeli occupation forces prevented ambulance access and obstructed civil defense teams from entering the village, allowing fires set by the settlers to spread and destroy homes.

The Israeli military reported intervening on Wednesday after dozens of Israelis set fire to property in Kafr Malik, with a confrontation breaking out involving rock-throwing between Israelis and Palestinians.

According to a military spokesperson, forces fired towards the source of gunfire and rock-hurlers.

Five additional Israelis were arrested during this incident.