Israeli police shot and killed a 33-year-old Palestinian man near Damascus Gate in Jerusalem on Friday, saying he had attempted to stab a border guard. Palestinian news agency Wafa identified him as Ibrahim al-Hendi, from East Jerusalem’s Beit Hanina neighbourhood; he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Separately, the Israeli army prevented about 100 peace activists from delivering food and medicine to three Palestinian homes in Qusra in the occupied West Bank, where families have been under siege by settlers for 28 days.
What happened near Damascus Gate
Israeli forces deployed around Damascus Gate and the surrounding area of Jerusalem’s Old City after the shooting, according to Palestinian sources. Police described the action as having “neutralised” a man who was allegedly trying to stab an officer.
The incident occurred as Israeli forces also reported arrests in the West Bank. The army said Palestinians were arrested in Qabatiya over an alleged plan to attack Israelis and security forces, while 10 others were detained during a 48-hour operation in Nablus. The army said it seized more than 30 machines used to manufacture weapons. For additional context, see “Teenagers killed as West Bank village faces settler encirclement”.
Aid blocked from besieged Qusra homes
Israeli settlers have besieged three Palestinian homes in Qusra since August 9, while the Israeli army has prevented the families from entering or leaving, saying the area is a “closed military zone”. Qusra Mayor Abdel Azim Wadi said basic necessities were being kept from three families trapped on Mount Ras al-Ain.
The Israeli Peace Now movement said activists were initially stopped on the grounds that Qusra was a closed military zone. It said the group was later allowed to enter but was detained on the return journey for allegedly violating the same order. A related part of this story is covered in “Fire near Ein Siniya factory adds to West Bank economic attacks”.
Reports of attacks elsewhere in the West Bank
Wafa reported that settlers stormed the Khirbet al-Hamra community in the northern Jordan Valley and assaulted one resident. Settlers accompanied by soldiers also attacked Khalet a-Nahlah in southern Bethlehem, where Israeli forces fired tear gas and concussion grenades at Palestinians who gathered to resist the attacks.
US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee told Israeli public broadcaster Kan that settler violence against Palestinians was damaging Israel’s image and that Israel needed friends rather than more enemies. Palestinian figures cited in the report estimate that about 750,000 Israeli settlers live in 156 settlements and 360 settlement outposts in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. The development of this issue can be followed in “Worshippers describe fear after attacks on West Bank mosques”.
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