The Israeli authorities say they have arrested three members of the Islamic militant group, Hamas, suspected of killing two Jewish settlers in August.

The spokesman said a fourth suspect was being questioned by Palestinian police.

The killing, near Nablus, and subsequent Hamas warnings of attacks on the Israelis prompted the c osure last month of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, preventing Palestinians from crossing into Israel for work.

The restrictions have been gradually eased since then , with another twenty-thousand Palestinians allowed to resume jobs in Israel on Sunday.