Israel/Palestinian Terr.: Palestinian stabbing attack in Geva Binyamin July 26 /update 1

Event

A Palestinian man entered the Israeli settlement of Geva Binyamin (West Bank) on Thursday, July 26, and carried out a stabbing attack that killed one Jewish settler and wounded two others. The assailant was shot and killed by a civilian at the scene of the incident, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The IDF and Israeli intelligence agency Shin Bet have launched an investigation into the attack. Additional Palestinian stabbing attacks are possible in the West Bank in the near-term.

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 in Israel and the Palestinian Territories are advised to monitor developments to the situation and to report suspicious objects and behavior to the authorities.

In general, 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.