Occupied Jerusalem: Israeli occupation officers shot and wounded a Palestinian girl on Wednesday after she allegedly did not stop at a crossing, regime officials said, the latest incident in an upsurge of violence.
The Palestinian’s intentions were not immediately clear and details were still emerging of the incident.
The incident occurred at a checkpoint near the Israeli colony of Alfei Menashe and the Palestinian town of Qalqilya in the occupied West Bank.
The Palestinian health ministry described her as a “girl,” but had no further details on her identity. It said she had been shot and described her wounds as moderate.
Palestinian media described her as a teenager.
The Israeli defence ministry claimed that she had approached the crossing by foot while carrying a bag.
“Crossing security officials called to her to stop and fired warning shots into the air,” it said in a statement.
It provided no further details. A ministry spokeswoman declined to comment further, including on whether any weapons were discovered.
A new surge of violence began on Friday after Palestinians wrapped up the celebration of Eid Al Adha and as Israel tightened security ahead of major Jewish holidays in October.
There have been nine attacks or attempted attacks by Palestinians against the Israeli occupation since then, claim occupation authorities.
The upsurge has shattered several weeks of relative calm.
The attacks have included one on Monday in which a Palestinian allegedly stabbed two Israeli occupation police officers outside occupied Jerusalem’s Old City, leaving one in serious condition and another moderately wounded.
The assailant in that case was shot and seriously wounded.
Violence since last October has killed 230 Palestinians, 34 Israelis, two Americans, one Jordanian, an Eritrean and a Sudanese, according to an AFP count.
Many analysts say Palestinian frustration with the Israeli occupation and colony building in the West Bank, the complete lack of progress in peace efforts and their own fractured leadership have helped feed the unrest.
