Israeli forces shot three Palestinian militants dead yesterday in a raid on the occupied West Bank to capture a Hamas Islamist militant.

The Palestinian Authority denounced the violence it said threatened peace talks ahead of the April deadline set by US Secretary of State John Kerry.

Nabil Abu Rdainah, spokesman for Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, urged Washington to take steps "to prevent a collapse" of negotiations. The Israeli military said its forces killed wanted militant Hamza Abu Alhija after he opened fire, wounding two soldiers.