Israel/Palestinian Territories: Attempted vehicle attack in West Bank July 10

Event

On Monday, July 10, a Palestinian driver attempted to run down and stab Israeli soldiers near a settlement in the occupied West Bank. The assailant was shot dead by troops, according to the Israeli military. No other fatalities were reported, but two Israeli soldiers reportedly incurred minor injuries.

Context

At least 255 Palestinians and one Jordanian citizen have been killed since a wave of violent Palestinian street attacks began in 2015. Israel claims at least 173 of those killed were carrying out attacks, while the rest died in clashes and protests. In addition to these deaths, 38 Israelis, two US tourists, and one British student have been killed in Palestinian stabbings, shootings, and car-rammings.

Longstanding political and social tensions between Israelis and Palestinians contribute to frequent security incidents of varying severity. Israel claims that these incidents are largely the result of the Palestinian Authority (PA) fueling social unrest with calls to protest, whereas Palestinians criticize what they describe as an illegal occupation by the Israeli population.

Advice

Individuals in Israel and the Palestinian territories are advised to keep abreast of the situation and to avoid any public demonstrations due to the risk of violence.

More generally due to the ongoing terrorist threat, travelers are advised to report any suspicious objects or behavior to the authorities and to remain vigilant when visiting sites deemed particularly likely to be targeted in an attack (public transportation, train stations, ports, airports, public or government buildings, embassies or consulates, international organizations, schools and universities, religious sites, markets, hotels and restaurants frequented by foreigners/Westerners, etc.). As a reminder, several Western governments advise their citizens against all travel to the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and areas near the Lebanese, Syrian, and Egyptian borders.