fbpx

News

Palestinian killed attempting to stab officers at West Bank junction

[ssba]

A 19-year-old Palestinian woman attempted to stab Israeli Border Police officers in the West Bank yesterday, but was shot and killed before she was able to inflict any injuries.

The woman, who was later identified as a resident of the nearby village of Asira ash-Shamaliya, approached Tapuach Junction and failed to comply with requests by officers to stop after she brandished a knife. She also continued to advance after warning shots were fired.

In a statement, the Border Police said: “A female suspect approached Border Police officers at the scene holding a knife. When she failed to heed their calls to halt, they shot and neutralised her.”

Yossi Dagan, head of the local Shomron Regional Council said that the “attempt to hurt the routine of our lives, not to mention that it comes during one of our holidays, will not succeed”.

Many Israelis are currently celebrating the Jewish festival of Succot, during which many take time off work and travel the country. It is part of a month-long period of Jewish holidays, which have often proved to be a flashpoint in the past. However, the traditional Succot Priestly Blessing at the Western Wall in Jerusalem took place yesterday and was attended by tens of thousands without any incident.

It was also announced yesterday that Israeli forces arrested five Palestinians from the West Bank village of Nilin on suspicion that they carried out a shooting attack on Israeli troops last week. In addition, Maariv reports that Palestinian security forces recently arrested three armed Palestinians near Ramallah, who were thought to be on their way to commit a shooting attack.

A wave of Palestinian violence which began last October has killed 42 people. It appeared to fade over the summer, but there has been an increase in attacks during the past several weeks, including a shooting attack which killed two Israelis in Jerusalem earlier this month.