Two Palestinians have been killed by Israeli troops in Hebron after they attempted to stab border police officers.
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Over the weekend, four Palestinians, one of whom held Jordanian citizenship, were shot dead during alleged assaults on Israelis, according to Israeli authorities.
Earlier Monday, a Palestinian stabbed two Israeli police officers outside Jerusalem’s Old City and was shot and critically wounded, Samri said.
Police spokeswoman Luba Samri said that in Hebron, officers guarding a checkpoint opened fire at two assailants who pulled out knives and tried to stab them, lightly wounding one officer. A female officer was said to have sustained serious wounds, and a male officer was allegedly moderately injured. The attacker is described as being in critical condition, and is being treated in a Jerusalem hospital.
The violence began when Palestinians became increasingly angered at reports of Israel’s covert plans for changing the status quo of the al-Aqsa Mosque, a highly revered place for the Muslims located in the occupied East Jerusalem al-Quds.
This was the second stabbing incident near the Old City of Jerusalem since Friday, as a fresh wave of attacks on Israeli security forces and civilians persisted for the fourth straight day.
“The motivation and inspiration to carry out attacks against Israelis remains strong”, the official said. The two assailants were from Hebron, and were aged 17 and 21, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that the potential for violence could rise as the Jewish high holidays approach.
Security is being stepped up over fears of a resurgence of stabbing attacks by Palestinians as the Jewish holiday season approaches. Others were shot dead during protests and clashes. Two of the Palestinian attackers were killed and one was wounded.
Many analysts say Palestinian frustration with the Israeli occupation and settlement-building in the West Bank, the complete lack of progress in peace efforts and their own fractured leadership have helped feed the unrest.
Amman disputed the Israeli account, calling the shooting of 28-year-old Saeed Amro “premeditated” and a “barbaric act”.
Israeli foreign ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon said the Jordanian foreign ministry “invited” Israel’s ambassador for a discussion over the incident.
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The attacks, including a auto ramming, four stabbings, and rock and bottle throwing, as well as several that were thwarted, came after a seeming downturn in the violence against Israelis that began with the Rosh Hashanah holiday previous year.
