Israel Defence Forces (IDF) have shot dead two Palestinians at the Qalandia checkpoint between Jerusalem and the West Bank. Police said the
ADVERTISEMENTIsrael Defence Forces (IDF) have shot dead two Palestinians at the Qalandia checkpoint between Jerusalem and the West Bank.
Police said the 16-year-old boy and his sister approached officers who ordered them to stop. The female allegedly waved a knife at one of the officers.
“They started to fire at them and tell them to go back,” said eyewitness Alaa Sobouh. “The woman [looked] pregnant. They shot her first and then as the man moved backwards, they fired at him. They shot them with more than seven bullets.”
Police say they found two knives on the boy’s body.
After the incident Israeli forces fired tear gas at media crews.
Scuffles outside Al-Aqsa mosque
Separately, scuffles broke out between Palestinians and Israeli security at the al-Aqsa mosque compound after Jewish visitors apparently tried to pray there, in violation of current visitor rules.
Israeli police officers were seen escorting two Jewish visitors outside.
Israeli security forces have been deployed by the thousands across Israel and in Jerusalem during the week-long holiday of Passover.