British-Israeli sisters killed in West Bank gun attack named

The two British-Israeli sisters killed in a gun attack in the occupied West Bank on Friday have been named as Rina and Maia Dee.

Rina, 15, and Maia, 20, who were born in London, were identified on Twitter by the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.

She remains in intensive care in Jerusalem after being evacuated by helicopter to hospital.

Their father was reported to be Rabbi Leo Dee, who served in synagogues in Hendon, north London and Radlett in Hertfordshire before the family moved to Israel eight years ago. He was travelling in a separate car and came across the scene as emergency services arrived.

The funeral for the victims is due to be held on Sunday in the Efrat settlement, the Sunday Times reported.

The attack, by Palestinian assailants, came after Israel launched retaliatory airstrikes on Lebanon and the Gaza Strip.

Tensions have been heightened by days of fighting at Jerusalem’s most holy site during the rare convergence of Ramadan, Passover and Easter.

The UK’s Middle East minister, Lord Ahmad, said: “I condemn yesterday’s attacks in the West Bank, killing two British-Israeli nationals and injuring one other, and in Tel Aviv where an Italian national was killed and British nationals were injured.”

The shadow foreign secretary, David Lammy, said: “I am shocked by reports of the killing of two British sisters in an appalling and cowardly attack in the West Bank.

“My thoughts are with their family and loved ones. More civilian victims of this cycle of violence show the urgent need for diplomatic efforts to de-escalate.”