(CNN) — “Resistance operations” will continue against Israelis despite the arrests of Hamas activists in the West Bank, a Hamas official said Thursday.

The Hamas pledge to continue attacks comes after the Islamist group claimed responsibility for two shooting attacks on Israeli settlers in the past two days that left four people dead and two others wounded.

The threat also coincides with the beginning of direct peace talks between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Washington.

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