Israel/Palestinian Terr.: Stabbing attack kills one in East Jerusalem March 18

Event

A Palestinian man stabbed an Israeli man in the Old City of East Jerusalem on Sunday, March 18. Israeli security forces shot and killed the assailant at the scene of the attack, on Hagai Street near the Temple Mount (Al-Haram Al-Sharif). The stabbed Israeli man later died of his wounds. Though the assailant has familial connections to Hamas in the West Bank, he was reportedly not actively involved in the organization. Additional stabbing attacks are possible in East Jerusalem and elsewhere in Israel and the Palestinian Territories in the coming weeks.

Context

Another notable stabbing attack took place near the Ariel settlement (West Bank) on February 5, in which an Arab-Israeli man stabbed a Jewish-Israeli man, killing him.

A spike in tensions has been observed in Israel and the Palestinian Territories in the wake of US President Donald Trump's December 2017 announcement that the US would officially recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital, a departure from the previous US and international position of neutrality on the status of the city claimed by both Israelis and Palestinians.

Advice

Individuals in Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip are advised to monitor developments to the situation, remain vigilant, and avoid all public demonstrations due to the risk of violence. A surge in anti-American and anti-Western sentiment is to be anticipated in some areas; all travelers, and Westerners in particular, are advised to maintain a low profile (do not discuss sensitive topics, do not stop to take photographs of demonstrations, etc.) and avoid unnecessary movements in the event of unrest.