Three Palestinians were shot dead after they allegedly carried out separate attacks in Israel and occupied East Jerusalem, killing one American tourist and wounding at least 12 Israelis, on Tuesday afternoon and evening.
In the first deadly encounter, shortly before 5 p.m., Israeli police spokesperson Luba al-Samri said a Palestinian man was shot dead after he allegedly stabbed and wounded an Israeli man near Petah Tikva, around seven miles east of Tel Aviv.
Al-Samri said that an “Arab terrorist” stabbed a Jewish Israeli in his mid-30s “in the upper part of his body,” leaving him with light to moderate injuries.
Israeli police forces arrived on the scene and shot dead the Palestinian, she said, adding that Israeli forces closed the area for investigation.
Minutes later, another Palestinian was shot dead after allegedly firing gunshots at Israeli police forces near Salah al-Din Street in occupied East Jerusalem, injuring two Israeli officers.
Israeli police spokesperson Micky Rosenfeld said two Israeli policemen were wounded when a Palestinian shot them with an automatic weapon.
A spokesperson for Hadassah hospital later said both Israeli officers had been hit in the head. One of them, aged 47, was in critical condition, fighting for his life, while the other, 31, was in moderate condition.
Shortly after 6 p.m., Israeli police reported a third attack near the port in the Israeli city of Jaffa, with a Palestinian shot dead after he stabbed to death an American tourist and wounded at least nine Israelis.
Israeli emergency services Magen David Adom (MDA) said five people were seriously injured and four moderately.
A spokesperson said the Palestinian attacker had stabbed the Israelis while running along a path near the port.
Israeli police later identified the Palestinian as a 22-year-old from the city of Qalqiliya in the occupied West Bank.
Since a wave of unrest swept Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory at the beginning of October last year, at least 188 Palestinians have been shot dead by Israelis.
Israel says the majority of those killed were attempting to attack Israelis when they were shot, although Palestinians and rights groups have disputed Israel’s version of events in a number of cases.
During that same period, attacks by Palestinians have left at least 28 Israelis dead.
(MAAN)
