2 Palestinians killed as clashes with Israel grow
TEL AVIV — Israeli forces shot and killed two Palestinians, including an unarmed woman, in confrontations across Israel and the occupied West Bank on Sunday in the latest in a growing wave of violence that has broken out during the holy month of Ramadan.
The shootings came as Israeli troops combed the northern West Bank city of Jenin and the surrounding area, home to two of the Palestinians who staged deadly attacks against Israelis in recent weeks. Ramadan this year converges with major Jewish and Christian holidays. Protests during Ramadan last year boiled over into an 11-day war between Israel and Gaza militants.
“We will be at every place at any time as needed to cut off these terror attacks,” said Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.
Four attacks by Palestinians in recent weeks have killed 14 people in one of the deadliest bursts of violence against Israelis in years. In response, Israel has stepped up its military activity in the West Bank.
At a military checkpoint near the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Israeli soldiers opened fire at a woman who the army said failed to heed calls to stop and ignored warning shots. The army said that soldiers aimed at the woman’s lower body. But the Palestinian Health Ministry said the woman later died from her injuries in a hospital. The Israeli military confirmed the woman was found to be unarmed and said the incident was under investigation.
Palestinian assailants often carry out attacks at checkpoints in the West Bank. But Palestinians and human rights groups say the military often uses excessive force and in some cases has injured or killed people who were not involved in violence.
In the West Bank city of Hebron, Israel’s border police said an officer shot another woman who stabbed and lightly wounded him near the Cave of the Patriarchs, a holy site revered by Jews and Muslims. Palestinian officials said the woman was killed.
Earlier, Brig. Gen. Ran Kochav told Israeli Army Radio that some 100 Palestinians marched to Joseph’s Tomb in the West Bank city of Nablus late Saturday and set it ablaze. The vandalism drew condemnation from Israeli leaders.