JERUSALEM (Reuters] – Two Arab gunmen attacked Israel and shot two civilians, Israeli security officials stated. They were visiting Israel as part of a summit that included the U.S. Secretary of State and three Arab foreign Ministers.

Officials claimed that the assailants at Hadera (a town about 50km (30 miles) north from Tel Aviv), were Arab Israeli citizens. According to Israeli media, they are Islamic State sympathisers.

U.S. Secretary Antony Blinken tweeted, “We condemn today’s terrorist attack at Hadera in Israel.” Such senseless violence and murder cannot be tolerated in society. Our condolences go out to the family members of those who have been hurt. We support our Israeli counterparts.

Five days earlier, an Arab man from south Israel had killed at least four Israelis during a car and stabbing attack in Beersheba. He was then fatally shot by another passerby.

The footage was captured on surveillance cameras and broadcast by Israeli TV stations. It showed two men shooting at a Hadera main street, opening fire with assault rifles. There are fears of an Israeli wave.

According to police and emergency services, two victims were shot dead by assailants. Two gunmen, police said, were killed by officers who had been eating at nearby restaurants.

Eli Levy, a national police spokesperson said that “fortunately our officers were able to neutralize the assailants” and prevented a larger terrorist attack.

The summit was held in Israel’s south Negev desert. It saw Blinken and the foreign ministers from the United Arab Emirates (Bahrain) as well as Morocco.

The Israeli foreign ministry tweeted that Yair Lapid, the Israeli foreign minister, “updated foreign ministers taking part in the Negev Summit regarding the details of terror attack in Hadera”,

“All the foreign ministers condemned the attack, and asked to send their condolences to the families of the victims & wishes for the recovery of the wounded,” the ministry said.

Israeli security officials warned of an increase in Israeli attacks in the lead-up to Ramadan, the Muslim holy month in April. This volatile time in Israel’s history has been a warning.

Jordan’s King Abdullah will meet with President Mahmoud Abubas of Palestine in the Occupied West Bank Monday. This is widely considered in Israel to be an effort to ease tensions before the holiday season, which includes Easter and Passover.