An Israeli security guard shot and killed a 13-year-old Palestinian girl at the entrance to a settlement in West Bank Saturday, after she attempted to stab him.
Israeli police spokeswoman Luba Samri said an initial investigation showed that the girl fought with her family and left her home with a knife before the incident. No one else was injured.
Holding a knife, she ran toward the security guard at the entrance to Anatot settlement and he opened fire at her, Samri said, adding that her father arrived at the scene shortly after the altercation and it was taken in for questioning.
Palestinian attacks
This is the latest fatality in the last four months during which Palestinian stabbing, shooting and car ramming attacks have been reported almost daily. Many of the Palestinian assailants have been teenagers, according to Israeli authorities.
Since early October, Israeli forces have killed about 150 Palestinian, nearly 100 of them identified by Israeli police as attackers. The rest have been killed in clashes with Israeli troops. Palestinians have killed at least 25 Israelis and a U.S. citizen.
Israel has said that the violence is the result of a Palestinian campaign of incitement. The Palestinians have said it is rooted in frustration over Israel's nearly 50-year occupation.
