Israeli security forces have shot a 15-year-old Palestinian boy to death after allegedly stabbing two Israelis in the occupied West Bank.
The stabbing incident occurred on Wednesday morning at the Tunnels Barrier checkpoint, situated near Bethlehem and in proximity to Israeli settlements.
According to Israeli police, the attack occurred at around 8:15 am (0615 GMT) at the Tunnels checkpoint south of Jerusalem when the teenager arrived on a bicycle before stabbing two security personnel.
“When security forces at the crossing attempted to check him, the terrorist drew a knife and began stabbing the forces present at the scene,” the police said.
“An armed civilian guard immediately engaged with the terrorist, and simultaneously IDF (army) forces at the location responded with precise gunfire neutralising the terrorist.”
A female soldier and a civilian armed guard were wounded in the stabbing, the police said, adding their injuries were “mild to moderate”.
The police later pronounced the attacker dead, saying guards shot the 15-year-old attacker, “neutralising” him.
The knife attack occurred one day following the tragic death of a 12-year-old Palestinian boy, Rami Hamdan al-Halhuli, who was fatally shot by Israeli border police in a refugee camp located in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem.
The incident unfolded during clashes between camp residents and police, with authorities alleging that the child had directed fireworks towards them, resulting in the fatal gunshot wound.
Since the start of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan on Monday, hundreds of additional police officers have been deployed in the Old City of East Jerusalem.
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