Israeli forces begin demolishing Palestinian buildings in Hebron after two Israeli soldiers shot dead

Two Israeli soldiers have been killed in a shooting by two suspected Palestinian attackers in the occupied West Bank, the Israeli military says.

Three other Israelis were wounded in the attack before the gunmen were shot dead at a checkpoint at an entrance to the city of Hebron, officials say.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the military would "destroy" the Hebron neighbourhood that the two attackers originated from, and that Israel was ready for "extensive action" in the West Bank.

The attack comes at a time of high tensions, with extremist Jewish settlers targeting Palestinians during the annual olive harvest, and Israel's general election taking place in four days time.

Footage verified by the BBC shows an intense gun battle between soldiers and the gunmen. Unverified CCTV footage shows two gunmen exit a car armed with what appears to be a handgun and an assault rifle and start firing on soldiers at the checkpoint, before coming under return fire.

The attack has already begun to influence the ongoing election campaign, with Netanyahu - who has built his campaign on the promise of security - saying that his Likud party would cancel campaign events which had been set for Friday morning.

Speaking from the scene of the attack, Netanyahu said that the military would "demolish this place and completely transform it," referring to the Hebron neighbourhood where the attackers originated from.

It is common for Israeli forces to demolish the homes of Palestinians who are suspected of carrying out attacks on Israelis - a practice Israeli rights groups have criticised as "collective punishment".