Two Palestinians were shot dead on Thursday after stabbing and wounding an Israeli woman outside a Jewish settlement in the occupied West Bank, the military said.
In a statement, the military said the latest incident occurred at a road junction outside the settlement of Ariel.
“Forces at the scene responded to the attack and shot the assailants, resulting in their deaths. The woman is being evacuated for medical care,” it said.
Since October, Palestinian street attacks have killed 28 Israelis and two U.S. citizens. Israeli forces have killed at least 187 Palestinians, 126 of whom Israel claims were assailants. Most others were shot dead during violent protests.
Tensions have been fueled by various factors including a dispute over Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa mosque compound and the disappointment by the failing rounds of peace talks to secure the Palestinians an independent state in Israeli-occupied territory. Also, economic adversity and social media are contributing to triggering attacks.
Palestinian leaders have said that with no advance on the horizon, desperate youngsters see no future ahead. Israel says young Palestinians are being incited to violence by their leaders and by groups seeking Israel’s destruction.