Israeli soldier dead in West Bank Palestinian stabbing attack

An off-duty soldier was killed and another Israeli moderately wounded when two Palestinians stabbed them in a supermarket in the occupied West Bank on Thursday before being shot, officials said.

A 21-year-old victim was taken to Jerusalem's Shaare Zedek hospital in serious condition, where he was pronounced dead after extensive efforts to resuscitate him, a spokeswoman said.

He was later identified by the Israeli army as Tuvia Weissman, a soldier from Maale Mikhmas, a nearby settlement, who was off duty at the time of the attack.

A moderately wounded 36-year-old was being treated in hospital.

Medics said the two had sustained stab wounds to their torsos and that three women who witnessed the attack were being treated for shock.

"Two Palestinians entered the Rami Levi (supermarket) in Shaar Binyamin (industrial zone) and stabbed two Israeli civilians," a police statement said.

"The two terrorists were shot and neutralized by an armed civilian at the site."

A hospital spokeswoman said one of the assailants was in a moderate to serious condition and was being treated for gunshot wounds. The second assailant was in serious condition and being treated at Shaare Zedek.

Palestinian sources said the two assailants were both 14-year-olds.

The supermarket is located in an Israeli-controlled industrial zone near Ramallah frequented by settlers.

Since October 1, Palestinian knife, gun and car-ramming attacks have taken the lives of 27 Israelis, an American and an Eritrean, according to an AFP count.

At the same time, 172 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces, most while carrying out attacks but others during clashes and demonstrations.
SourcE :AFP