BICOM

Eight Israelis were injured yesterday in four separate attacks across the country on a second day of extreme violence. Meanwhile, Israeli forces clashed with Palestinians across the West Bank.

Yesterday morning in Tel Aviv, a 19-year-old Palestinian from Jerusalem, thought to be a local construction worker, used a screwdriver to stab a female soldier near the IDF headquarters. He attempted to steal her weapon and also injured three civilians, but was pursued by an off-duty serviceman who shot the attacker dead. Yarkon police commander Yehuda Dahan commented that, “We’re seeing incidents across Israel that are being stopped by police, military personnel and also armed civilians, who are able to stop attacks and prevent further harm.”

Soon after in Jerusalem, at a light railway station close to the Israel Police headquarters, a 25-year-old Israeli man was stabbed in the neck by a 19-year-old from the Arab neighbourhood of Shuafat. A civilian and a light rail security guard tackled the terrorist who was handed over to police. The victim is in a stable condition in a Jerusalem hospital. Yesterday evening, a 20-year-old local died in clashes with Israeli security forces, who entered Shuafat to search the attacker’s home.

Late in the afternoon, a 20-year-old from Jenin in the West Bank travelled to the northern Israeli city of Afula and stabbed a 21-year-old off duty Israeli soldier multiple times in the chest, suffering serious injury. A number of locals chased the attacker and pinned him to the ground before police arrived on the scene.

Meanwhile, in the West Bank town of Kiryat Arba, near Hebron, a Palestinian stabbed a 31-year-old in the chest, stomach and back. The attacker fled the scene and the IDF subsequently launched a hunt for the assailant.

In the wider West Bank, a number of clashes took place between Palestinians and IDF troops. Near Tulkarm, around 500 protestors hurled firebombs at Israeli forces, while explosive devices were thrown by around 200 Palestinians near Bethlehem.