JERUSALEM, June 28 (Xinhua) -- The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement on Saturday that dozens of Israeli civilians, among them settlers, attacked Israeli soldiers near the Palestinian town of Kafr Malik, central West Bank, overnight.

Israeli news website Ynet reported that the gathering, including about 40 Israeli settlers from a recently established outpost in the area, hurled stones at troops and assaulted them, including a battalion commander.

According to the IDF, the incident occurred after Israeli soldiers identified Israeli civilians driving towards an area designated as a closed military zone, near the town. The soldiers were dispatched to the scene to disperse the gathering.

The IDF noted that the assailants also vandalized and damaged security forces' vehicles, and attempted to ram the security forces. Six Israeli civilians were arrested and handed over to the Israel Police for further investigation.

Meanwhile, Defense Minister Israel Katz criticized the incident, calling on leaders of West Bank settler communities to strongly condemn the acts of violence.

"Israel will not allow violence and taking the law into their own hands, and will not allow harm to the soldiers who are courageously fighting against Palestinian terrorism in Judea and Samaria (West Bank) and protecting the security of the settlers day and night," he said in a statement.

On Wednesday, three Palestinians were killed and seven others injured by live bullets during an Israeli settler attack on the town. ■