RAMALLAH, Palestinian Territories, May 14, 2021 (BSS/AFP) – Two
Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire in the West Bank on Friday,
including one who attempted to stab a soldier, as clashes injured more
than 100 people in the occupied territory.
Violence on Fridays in the West Bank is a traditional facet of the
long running Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but the fresh unrest comes
as Israel is engaged in major hostilities with Palestinian armed
groups in Gaza.
Israel’s army said it “neutralised” an assailant who attempted to
stab at soldier at a military post in Ofra, north of Ramallah.
The Palestinian health ministry confirmed the man’s death and that
of a second man it said was shot dead by Israeli troops near Jenin.
There have been daily clashes in the West Bank since Monday, when
the conflict in Gaza escalated after the territory’s rulers, Hamas,
fired rockets towards Jerusalem.
The Palestinian Red Crescent said Friday’s West Bank clashes,
affecting multiple locations, had left more than 100 people wounded,
including from tear gas and rubber bullets.
Amid the surge in West Bank violence, the Gaza conflict raged on
Friday, with Israeli forces continuing a bombing campaign in response
to Palestinian rocket fire.
Since Monday, more than 1,800 rockets have been at Israel by Hamas,
Islamic Jihad and other armed groups.
Israel has responded with air and artillery strikes on more than 600
targets in the blockaded enclave.