Israeli soldiers shoot dead a Palestinian near Bethlehem: medics

Israeli soldiers shot dead on Thursday a Palestinian young man south of the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Palestinian medics and Israeli security sources said.

The Palestinian health ministry said in an emailed press statement that Israeli soldiers shot and killed a Palestinian young man at an Israeli army barrier close to Gush Itzion crossroad south of Bethlehm.

The statement said that the identity of the young man is still unknown and his body is still held by the Israeli army forces.

Israeli security sources said that Israeli soldiers stationed on a barrier at Gush Itzion crossroad south of Bethlehem opened fire at a Palestinian who was holding a knife and tried to stab one of the soldiers and killed him.

There were no injuries among the soldiers or the settlers were present in the area, adding that the man was killed after he approached a group of soldiers who were standing at a bus station close to the crossroad.

The sources said that when the soldiers tried to arrest the suspect, he was carrying a knife and tried to stab one of the soldiers, adding that other soldiers immediately opened fire and killed him.

Since the beginning of the current wave of tension, the Israeli army and security forces had so far killed 76 Palestinians and wounded more than 2,000 others, according to the Palestinian health ministry.

In the meantime, 11 Israelis were killed and more than 20 wounded in a series of stabbing and shooting attacks carried out by the Palestinians in the West Bank, Israel and east Jerusalem.

The wave of tension and violent confrontations between the two sides broke out following the Israeli measures against al-Aqsa mosque compound in east Jerusalem. Endit