Israeli troops kill two Palestinians at checkpoint near Ramallah

Two Palestinians were killed Wednesday by Israeli troops beside an Israeli army checkpoint, medical sources said.

The Palestinian Health Ministry in the West Bank confirmed in an emailed press statement that a woman and a young man were shot dead by Israeli troops' gunfire outside the Israeli army checkpoint of Qalandia.

Eyewitnesses reported that Israeli soldiers stationed at the checkpoint fired around 15 gunshots towards a woman called Maram Abu Ismail, 24 years old, married with two children, killing her at her exit from the Israeli checkpoint.

The witnesses added that another Palestinian young man who approached the woman's body was also shot dead by Israeli soldiers, adding that the soldiers prevented Palestinian ambulances from approaching both bodies.

Meanwhile, Israeli media reported that the woman was holding a knife, according to the soldiers, and the young man walked beside her, and that the soldiers opened fire, killing them both.

Israeli media added that both Palestinians were believed to be about to stab the Israeli soldiers stationed at the checkpoint.

On April 14, a Palestinian was also killed in the southern West Bank city of Hebron, where Israeli media also reported he attempted to stab Israeli soldiers in Hebron.

A wave of tension has been ongoing between Israelis and Palestinians in the West Bank, which has so far killed 204 Palestinians and 34 Israelis. Endit