Israeli forces on Friday killed an Arab Israeli wanted for the murders of three people in a shooting spree in Tel Aviv last week, a government minister said.

Gilad Erdan, minister for public security, announced the "elimination of the terrorist" on Twitter.

"Our forces worked day and night to find him," Erdan said of the suspect, Nashaat Melhem.

Melhem had been on the run since January 1, when he allegedly fired on customers in a Tel Aviv bar at random, killing two.

He later shot dead an Arab-Israeli taxi driver, according to the authorities.

The Israeli authorities had been reluctant to specify the motives of the attack.

The police confirmed they had surrounded a building in which he had been hiding in his hometown of Arara.

Melhem left the building and a gunfight erupted with security forces, during which he was shot dead, a police statement said.

No police officers were injured.

Twenty-two Israelis, an American and an Eritrean have been killed in Palestinian attacks including stabbings, car rammings and gunfire targeting security forces and civilians since October 1.

At the same time, 144 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces, most while carrying out attacks.
Source: AFP