A group of Israeli settlers attacked Palestinians in the West Bank village of Jalud overnight, injuring several people, an army spokesman said on Thursday.

Palestinian security officials said a two-month-old baby was among those injured.

The spokesman told that the settlers had damaged two cars, thrown stones at houses and forcibly entered one home, beating a Palestinian who was afterwards taken to hospital.

Soldiers arrived at the village, south of the city of Nablus, and clashed with the settlers, but made no arrests, he added.

“The Israeli army takes these kinds of incidents, which threaten the security of the area, seriously,” he said.

Palestinian security officials confirmed the clashes which they said involved residents of an illegal settlement outpost called Achia, adding that stones thrown by the settlers during the incident injured a two-month-old baby.

Clashes between Palestinians and settlers have increased in the West Bank in recent months, with a radical fringe of Israelis attacking Palestinian property, including olive trees and cars.