Palestinian shot dead after alleged car attack

Israeli soldiers kill a Palestinian and wound another after “feeling in danger” at a checkpoint north of Jerusalem.

Palestinian shot and killed
Palestinians are frustrated by Israel's decades-long occupation [File: Reuters]

Israeli soldiers have shot dead a Palestinian man and wounded another after an alleged car ramming attack in northern Jerusalem. 

The incident took place early on Wednesday at a checkpoint in the district of al-Ram.

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The Israeli army said in a statement that one of the border guards “felt in danger” when the driver of the car began to speed near the checkpoint, causing them to open fire. 

According to Ali Musilmani, head of the al-Ram municipality, the Palestinian who was shot dead was 22-year-old Anwar al-Salaymeh. 

“He was a newly-wed; he got married only a month ago,” Musilmani told Al Jazeera.

“The other youth who is now critically injured is 20 year-old-Fares Khader al-Rishq. He is now being hospitalised at Hadassah hospital in Jerusalem.”

A third Palestinian, identified by Musilmani as 20-year-old Mohamed Nassar, was arrested at the scene.

Wave of violence

In the latest cycle of violence since October 2015, Israeli forces have killed more than 200 Palestinians, including unarmed demonstrators, bystanders and attackers. 

Meanwhile, more than 30 Israelis have been killed in stabbings and car ramming attacks. 

READ MORE: Israel allows lethal force on stone throwers, report says

According to the Palestinian health ministry, nearly 17,000 people have been wounded in the violence, some 6,000 by live or rubber-coated steel bullets.

Palestinians are frustrated by Israel’s decades-long occupation and with peace talks going nowhere.

Source: Al Jazeera, News Agencies