Israeli forces have shot dead another Palestinian in al-Quds (Jerusalem) after claiming that he attacked and stabbed a woman near the central bus station.
Israeli police said in a statement that the man was killed on Wednesday after allegedly attacking and moderately injuring “a woman aged about 70.”
Palestinian sources identified the man as 23-year-old Ahmad Fathy Abu Shabaan, and said he had been released from an Israeli jail.
Earlier in the day, Israeli police killed another Palestinian youth at an entrance to the occupied al-Quds’ Old City over similar claims. Palestinian media named him as Bassel Sadr, 20, from the occupied West Bank city of al-Khalil (Hebron).
The fresh fatalities come amid the recent deadly tension between the Tel Aviv regime and Palestinians triggered by Israel’s imposition of sweeping restrictions on entries into the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in East al-Quds on August 26 and Israeli settlers’ repeated attacks on the mosque.
According to Palestinian sources, a total of 32 Palestinians have been killed in clashes with Israelis since October 1. It is said that at least 7 Israeli have been killed in the same period.
Palestinians are furious at the settler violence and a plan by Israelis to change the status quo of the mosque, which is Islam’s third holiest site after Masjid al-Haram in Mecca and Masjid al-Nabawi in Medina.
The Israeli regime has also erected checkpoints in Palestinian neighborhoods of East al-Quds and mobilized hundreds of soldiers.
Israeli forces also clashed with Palestinian protesters in the occupied West Bank city of Bethlehem on Wednesday, following the funeral of a Palestinian killed by the Tel Aviv regime forces.
Abbas supports "popular resistance"
In a separate development on Wednesday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in a speech broadcast on official Palestinian television expressed support for “peaceful, popular resistance” against Israeli occupation while also speaking about the Palestinians’ “right to defend ourselves” and their right to “pursue our national struggle.”
Observers have warned that the Tel Aviv regime’s provocations could pave the way for a new Intifada against Israel.