A second Palestinian was shot dead on Wednesday by Israeli forces after allegedly stabbing an Israeli woman by the central bus station in West Jerusalem, Israeli police and media said.
Israeli police spokesperson Micky Rosenfeld said that a 70-year-old Israeli woman was moderately to seriously injured in the stabbing attack, with a Palestinian suspect shot at the scene.
The Palestinian is believed to be Ahmad Shaaban, 23, from the Ras al-Amud neighborhood.
Amjad Abu Asab, head of a committee for Jerusalem detainees, said that Shaaban was detained on April 29, 2012 and was convicted by an Israeli court for a confrontation with Israeli settlers. Shaaban spent three years in prison and was released seven months ago.
Shaaban reportedly attempted to board an Egged bus in the area after stabbing the woman and was shot dead by Israeli border police, Israeli news site Ynet said.
Earlier, Basil Bassam Ragheb Sidr, 20, was killed by Damascus Gate in East Jerusalem after being shot multiple times by Israeli forces.
Sidr allegedly drew a knife after being approached by Israeli forces and then fled down a flight of steps, where he was shot in footage captured by an MSNBC news crew.
The video footage show what appears to be a mobile phone and a knife in his hands.
Witnesses said the man was”executed in cold blood” after being shot with 14 bullets and left to bleed on the ground. Israeli forces deployed in the area and shouted “terrorist, terrorist” at the suspect before shooting him, they added.
The latest killings bring the number of Palestinians killed since Oct. 1 to 32. Seven Israeli have been killed in the same time period.
On Tuesday, two Palestinians were shot and killed after they allegedly carried out attacks that killed three Israelis and injured up to 27 in four separate attacks across Israel and occupied East Jerusalem on Tuesday.
In the wake of the attacks, Israel’s government immediately suggested punitive measures against Palestinians, including the closure of Palestinian neighborhoods in occupied East Jerusalem and arming more Israeli citizens with guns.
Earlier on Wednesday, Israel’s security cabinet announced that Israeli police are now entitled to “impose a closure on, or to surround, centers of friction and incitement in Jerusalem, in accordance with security considerations,” according to reports by Israeli news site Haaretz.
The cabinet also gave approval for the revocation of residency status for Palestinians who carry out attacks as well as the police closure of occupied East Jerusalem.
(Ma’an)
