Benjamin Netanyahu cancels trip to Germany amid fresh unrest between Israel and Palestine

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was forced to cancel his trip to Germany after violence erupted in Israel and the West Bank on 7 October. In the West Bank, three Palestinians were injured after undercover Israeli police opened fire on alleged Palestinian stone-throwers. The police were allegedly throwing stones at the Palestinians before suddenly opening fire on the group, a video posted by a Reuters journalist revealed.

Meanwhile, a Palestinian man was shot dead in Kiryat Gat in Israel for allegedly stabbing an Israeli soldier and taking his weapon. Video footage aired on a local Israeli broadcaster showed armed police standing over a body lying in a pool of blood. Further reports reveal details of a separate incident in Jerusalem's Old City, where an attempted stabbing by an 18-year-old Palestinian woman resulted in her being shot by an Israeli man. The woman is said to be seriously injured. A third incident involved a female Israeli settler's car being stoned near Beit Sahour, while other settlers allegedly opened fire on Palestinians and seriously injured a youth.

The wave of attacks come as Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas both continue to work towards a solution. Security officials from both sides met in the West Bank on 6 October to discuss the ongoing violence, with Abbas calling on Palestinians to avoid "escalation" of the conflict with Israel.

Speaking to a meeting of the Palestine Liberation Organisation, Abbas said: "We do not want a military or security escalation between us and them. All of our instructions to our security agencies, organisations, youth and people are that we do not want escalation, but we want to defend ourselves."

The violence on 7 October came amid escalating tensions in the West Bank and East Jerusalem following increased violence. On 5 October, two Palestinian teenagers were shot dead by Israeli troops in the West Bank.