02 Jun 2018 | 01:06 PM UTC
Israel/Palestinian Terr.: Attempted car ramming in West Bank June 2 /update 1
Israeli soldiers kill Palestinian man who attempted to hit them with his car in Hebron (West Bank) June 2
Event
Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers shot and killed a Palestinian man at a checkpoint in Hebron (West Bank) on Saturday, June 2. According to the IDF, the soldiers opened fire after the man failed to stop his vehicle and attempted to run them over. The Palestinian Health Ministry confirmed that the man was killed but did not provide any further details.
Context
A spike in tensions and cross-border incidents 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, and would move the US Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The new embassy was officially opened on May 14.
Advice
Individuals present in Israel and the Palestinian Territories are advised to avoid all protests or other public gatherings due to the high risk of violence and to monitor developments to the situation. Due to the underlying terrorist threat, travelers in Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip are advised to report any suspicious objects or behavior to the authorities. Some Western governments advise their citizens against all travel to the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and areas near the Israeli-Lebanese, Israeli-Syrian, and Israeli-Egyptian borders.
