Israeli security forces fire rubber bullets at Palestinian protesters in the West Bank city of Hebron, on March 1, 2022 (Credit: AFP)
Israeli forces shot dead two Palestinians in separate incidents Wednesday. According to sources on both sides, one of the deceased allegedly tried to stab soldiers, while the other, a teenager, appeared to point a fake gun at police.
In the first incident, Arref Abdel Nasser Arref Lahlouh, 22, was killed "by Israeli gunfire," near the occupied West Bank city of Qalqilya, according to the Palestinian health ministry.
The army said that Lahlou "attempted to carry out a stabbing attack" near the Jewish settlement of Kdumim.
"The assailant, armed with a knife, arrived at an IDF military post and attempted to stab an IDF soldier at the scene," it said.
Lahlouh was "neutralized by the soldiers in the area," the army added.
Lahlou is the 19th Palestinian killed in the West Bank this year, including civilians and combatants, most of whom were shot dead by Israeli forces.
Separately Wednesday, Israeli forces killed a teenager during an operation in the Shuafat refugee camp in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem.
The Palestinian health ministry identified him as Muhammad Ali Muhammad Ali, 17.
Forces had gone to the camp to demolish the home of Udai Tamimi, who shot and killed military policewoman Noa Lazar at a checkpoint in October.
Israeli police said that "masked terrorists threw pipe bombs and Molotov cocktails" at officers during the operation.
"The police ... identified a suspect armed with an item that looked like a weapon and was pointing it at the force," the statement said.
"Following the threat, a shot was fired at the suspect, which led to his neutralization. At the scene, police found an imitation firearm," it added.
Tamimi was killed by Israeli forces after a 10-day manhunt. He was shot dead while carrying out another attack at a West Bank settlement.
Israel routinely demolishes the homes of individuals it blames for attacks on Israelis. Human rights activists say the policy amounts to collective punishment, as it can render non-combatants, including children, homeless.
Israel says the practice is effective in deterring some Palestinians from carrying out attacks.
Last year, 150 Palestinians were killed in the West Bank, the highest annual toll since United Nations records began in 2005.
At least 26 Israelis and 200 Palestinians were killed across Israel and the Palestinian territories, according to an AFP tally from official sources.
In the first incident, Arref Abdel Nasser Arref Lahlouh, 22, was killed "by Israeli gunfire," near the occupied West Bank...