Several Palestinians dead after clashes with Israeli army
Tensions between Palestinians and Israeli forces have been on the rise in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem in recent months.
FOUR Palestinians were killed in clashes with Israeli soldiers on Tuesday, while a fifth was killed after a car attack in the occupied West Bank.
Israeli police said on Tuesday that a soldier had been seriously injured after being targeted by a car north of Jerusalem. The attacker was shot dead, according to the statement.
Earlier, a 44-year-old man was killed by a gunshot wound to the head during clashes near Hebron, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. Nine others were wounded, it said.
In Hebron, Israel said two military vehicles were forced to a halt after dozens of Palestinians pelted the soldiers with stones and explosive devices and fired at them. The soldiers returned fire.
Elsewhere, a total of three men, including two brothers, were killed in two villages near Ramallah on Tuesday, the Palestinian Health Ministry said.
In one incident in the area, the Israeli army said that soldiers had been pelted with stones and incendiary devices and had then used live ammunition.
The situation in the occupied West Bank has been tense for months.
Following a series of attacks on Israelis that began in March, the army has been conducting an increasing number of raids.
According to the Health Ministry, more than 150 Palestinians have been killed this year in connection with military
operations, in clashes or in attacks they were carrying out.
There are also increasing reports of violence by Israeli
settlers against Palestinians, Israeli activists, or soldiers.