Palestinian Woman Shot After Stabbing Israeli Settler In West Bank

A 22-year-old Palestinian woman, identified by Palestinian Ma’an News Agency as Amal Jamal Taqatqa, was shot after allegedly stabbing an Israeli settler in the southern West Bank. The incident, which is the latest in a series of attacks and counterattacks in the region, took place near a Jewish settlement in the Gush Etzion area of southern West Bank, according to media reports.

“The civilian who was lightly wounded received medical treatment at the scene and did not require hospitalization,” the Israeli police reportedly said.

Nisreen El-Shamayleh, an Al Jazeera journalist, reported from Ramallah: “According to the police, the woman approached an Israeli soldier with the intention of stabbing him but was unable to do so. So she then used her knife to harm a passerby, an Israeli civilian, who was apparently only lightly injured.”

The Palestinian woman, who, according to local media reports, is believed to be from the village of Beit Fajjar -- located near Gush Etzion -- was shot while attempting to flee, and is believed to be in a serious condition, Haaretz reported, citing Israeli police officials.

Israeli paramedics told Haaretz that the woman has been transferred to a Jerusalem hospital for treatment. “At this point, the situation is under control and there are no additional casualties,” a paramedic told Haaretz.

Tensions in towns and villages around East Jerusalem have been running high since July, when Israel launched a 50-day-long war in the Gaza Strip. Since then, sporadic clashes in the Occupied West Bank have led to the deaths of several Palestinians and Israelis.

The latest attack comes just weeks after two Palestinians, armed with cleavers and a gun, entered a synagogue in Jerusalem and killed four Jewish worshippers. An Israeli police official was also killed in the attack.