TEL AVIV (Sputnik) — Israeli soldiers have shot an assailant, who had attacked them with an ax near the Palestinian town of Bethlehem, an Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson said Thursday.
"Attempted stabbing attack near Al-Arroub, south of Bethlehem. Assailant armed with ax attacked soldier guarding near Bethlehem. In response, forces shot attacker," the IDF spokesperson wrote in the official Twitter account.
Initial Report: Attempted stabbing attack near Al-Arroub, south of Bethlehem. pic.twitter.com/3u8hKEuO6T
— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) April 14, 2016
Attack Update: Assailant armed with ax attacked soldier guarding near Bethlehem. In response, forces shot attacker pic.twitter.com/t1SdDcaCYI
— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) April 14, 2016
Israel has been facing a wave of violence since early September 2015, which has left almost 230 people dead. Most of the victims are Palestinians, who have been killed following knife, firearm and car attacks on Israelis. Some 30 Israelis and one US citizen are estimated to have been killed in attacks since October 2015.
The Israeli government refuses to recognize Palestine as an independent political and diplomatic entity, and builds settlements on the occupied areas, despite objections from the United Nations.
