Two more Palestinians killed in fresh attacks

Tuesday’s raid comes as Israel has faced a wave of Palestinian attacks, mainly stabbings, in the West Bank and east Jerusalem over the past two months.

Police spokeswoman Luba Samri said two Palestinians, aged 12 to 13, stabbed a security guard on a light-rail train in Pisgat Zeev, a Jewish settlement north of Jerusalem.

In one of the two Jerusalem attacks, a knife-wielding Palestinian ran towards two security guards near the Damascus Gate, a main entrance to the Old City, and the guards shot him, police said.

According to the Palestinian health ministry, more than 80 Palestinians have died, a few in clashes with security forces during protests, while others gunned down by security forces and vigilante citizens after allegedly trying to carry out attacks against Israelis.

The Palestinian arrived at the Kiosk checkpoint near Bethlehem in the West Bank on Tuesday afternoon and arose the suspicion of border guards, a police spokesperson said.

Tensions in the occupied territories have dramatically escalated in recent weeks due to the Israeli government’s imposition of restrictions in August on the entry of Palestinian worshipers to the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in East al-Quds (Jerusalem).

The Ynet news outlet named the 12 and 13-year-old boys as cousins Moawiyah and Ali Alkam from the refugee camp of Shuafat.

Israeli authorities are retaining about 20 corpses in a policy meant to discourage attacks and stop funerals from becoming political rallies likely to further inflame emotions.

The case became a lightning rod for both sides in the Israeli-Palestinian divide after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas erroneously claimed in a televised speech that Israelis had “summarily executed” Ahmed. His 4-year-old brother Ahmad is being treated in an Israeli hospital. Palestinians have said the attacks stem from a lack of hope for gaining independence after years of failed peace efforts.

Israel promptly accused Abbas – as it has done repeatedly in the past months – of fomenting violence with what it said were incendiary comments. The video made no mention of the preceding attack.

On Monday, Palestinian media released footage showing Jerusalem police questioning Ahmed. One of the officers shouts at Ahmed, “Is this you, this person?” as the teen cries and says he doesn’t remember.

Attorney Lea Tsemel, who is representing Ahmed, said she may contest the investigation based on the manner of questioning seen in the video.