Israel/Palestinian Terr.: Palestinian shot dead after attempted stabbing Oct. 22 /update 1

Event

A Palestinian man was shot dead after attempting to stab an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldier outside of the Cave of the Patriarchs (Ibrahimi Mosque) in Hebron (West Bank) on Monday, October 22. The soldier reportedly suffered minor injuries. A heightened security presence is anticipated in the area in the coming hours. Further Palestinian stabbing attacks targeting Israeli security forces are possible in the West Bank in the near-term.

Context

Palestinian stabbing attacks targeting Israeli security forces are not uncommon in the West Bank. Notably, on October 15, a Palestinian man was shot dead after attempting to stab an IDF soldier at a bus stop near Ariel (West Bank). Also, on October 11, a Palestinian man wounded an IDF reservist soldier in a stabbing attack outside the Samaria Territorial Brigade base near Maskit Junction, close to the Jewish settlements of Har Brakha and Itamar.

Advice

Individuals in the West Bank are advised to monitor developments to the situation, report all suspicious objects and behavior to police, and adhere to all instructions issued by the local authorities and their home governments. 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.