Two Israeli women have been killed and another seriously injured in a shooting attack in the occupied West Bank, near the settlement of Hamra. The women were travelling in a car when it crashed after being shot at. The Magen David Adom ambulance service said two women in their 20s were declared dead at the scene. The third woman, aged 45, is in a critical condition. If those behind the attack are confirmed to be Palestinian, then 17 Israelis and a Ukrainian, all civilians except for an Israeli paramilitary police officer, have been killed in Palestinian attacks. There has been an intensification of violence between Israel and the Palestinians since the start of this year.
The Israeli military said its troops had “started a pursuit of the terrorists.” Israel Police commissioner Kobi Shabtai called on all Israelis with firearms licences to start carrying their weapons, saying, “this is a murderous attack that reminds us how relevant the threat of terrorism in its various forms is.” The attack comes after the Israeli military said it had carried out air strikes overnight on targets linked to the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip. The military said the attacks were a response to a barrage of more than 30 rockets fired from Lebanon into northern Israel on Thursday, which it blamed on Hamas.
The barrage from Lebanon followed two nights of Israeli police raids at the al-Aqsa mosque in occupied East Jerusalem, which triggered violent confrontations with Palestinians inside and caused anger across the region. The ongoing conflict has also led to an increase in gun ownership in Israel. If you’re interested in staying up to date on this developing story, stay tuned to BBC News for more information as it becomes available.
The conflict between Israel and Palestine has been ongoing for many years, with the situation worsening in recent months. The latest incident is just one in a long line of violent attacks that have been carried out in the region. It is yet another reminder of the importance of finding a peaceful resolution to this conflict, one that will allow both sides to live in safety and security.
Source: BBC
