Israel/Palestinian Terr.: Palestinian assailant shot dead in Jerusalem Sep. 18

Event

A would-be Palestinian assailant brandishing a sharp object was shot dead by Israeli police in Jerusalem near the Old City on the evening (local time) of Tuesday, September 18. The assailant, a 26-year-old Palestinian man from the Qalandiya refugee camp (West Bank), reportedly attempted to stab an Israeli man on HaNevi'im Street, near the Damascus Gate, outside the Old City before running at an Israeli police officer and being shot dead. Security forces erected cordons in the affected area after the incident. Lingering traffic disruptions are possible in the area in the coming hours.

Context

The incident comes as Jewish people began to celebrate Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), one of the most important holidays on the Jewish calendar, from sunset on September 18 to nightfall on September 19. It will take place in a context of high tensions this year, as numerous clashes have occurred over the past few weeks and months between Israeli security forces and Palestinian protesters. More than 170 Palestinians and two Israeli soldiers have been killed in border clashes since protests related to the Great March of Return began in March.

Palestinians have occasionally carried out stabbing attacks targeting Israelis in Jerusalem and the West Bank in recent years.

Advice

Individuals present in Israel and the Palestinian Territories are advised 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.