Stabbing near Jerusalem follows deadly West Bank violence

Israeli authorities reported an incident where a Palestinian assailant attacked and wounded two individuals at a checkpoint near Jerusalem, resulting in the attacker being neutralized on Wednesday.

The victims, identified by Israel’s Magen David Adom emergency service as sustaining mild to moderate injuries, were members of the security forces, according to Israeli police details. An Associated Press journalist confirmed witnessing the assailant’s demise.

This episode is part of a recent escalation in violence within the occupied West Bank following an offensive by Hamas on October 7, which initiated the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Since then, the Palestinian Health Ministry has reported the deaths of at least 427 Palestinians, predominantly in clashes with Israeli military forces. The commencement of Ramadan, a significant period in the Muslim calendar, often heightens tensions between Israelis and Palestinians, particularly over access to a crucial religious site in Jerusalem.

The territories of the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem were seized by Israel during the 1967 Middle East conflict, areas the Palestinians seek for the establishment of a prospective sovereign state.