The U.S. State Department condemned on Friday the recent firebomb attack on Palestinian civilians in the West Bank, urging the Israeli authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice.

"The United States condemns in the strongest possible terms yesterday's attack on a Palestinian taxi in the West Bank," said the State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland.

She also offered her "deepest sympathies" to the victims, calling on all parties to avoid any actions that could lead to an escalation of violence.

On Thursday, a Palestinian taxi in the West Bank was hit by a Molotov cocktail, injuring five Palestinian family members, who suffered moderate to serious wounds. An Israeli police officer said that the attack was carried out by Jews and was nationalistically-motivated.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the attack and instructed the Israeli military to act determinately to apprehend those behind the attack.

Thursday's attack was followed by another one on early Friday when dozens of Jewish youths attacked three young Palestinians at Jerusalem's Zion Square, with one Palestinian being severely wounded.