The Israeli military has begun deploying hundreds of troops in Israeli cities to assist police forces in countering a wave of deadly Palestinian shooting and stabbing attacks that have created panic across the country. Police have been given the authority to seal off Palestinian neighbourhoods in East Jerusalem to contain potential attackers. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has allowed revocation of residency rights of Palestinians deemed to have committed "terrorism". The cabinet also decided to strip residency rights and demolish homes of attackers.
The measures came after after a "Day of Rage" was declared by Palestinian groups. Two Palestinian men boarded a bus and began shooting and stabbing passengers, while another assailant rammed a car into a bus stop, then got out of his vehicle and began hacking bystanders with a long knife. The near-simultaneous attacks, along with two stabbings in the central Israeli city of Raanana, marked the most serious outbreak of violence since the current round of tensions erupted. Three Palestinians, including two attackers, were also killed.
An Israeli forensic expert examins a body lying in a bus following a Palestinian shooting attack in the East Jerusalem Jewish settlement of Armon Hanatsiv, adjacent to the Palestinian neighbourhood of Jabal MukaberThomas Coex/AFP
Israeli police are reflected in a bullet-scarred window of a bus after an attack in JerusalemRonen Zvulun/ReutersA medic treats a man at the scene of a stabbing attack in JerusalemIlia Yefimovich/Getty ImagesMedics attend the scene of a stabbing attack in JerusalemIlia Yefimovich/Getty ImagesUltra-Orthodox Jews carry the body of Yeshayahu Krishevsky during his funeral in Jerusalem's Mea Shearim neighbourhoodRonen Zvulun/ReutersRelatives and friends attend the funeral of Isheayahu Krishevsky, who was stabbed to death by a Palestinian manIlia Yefimovich/Getty Images
A Palestinian protester catches fire as he throws a Molotov cocktail at Israeli troops during clashes in the West Bank city of HebronMussa Qawasma/ReutersA Palestinian student from Hebron University tries to take his shirt off after he set himself on fire while throwing a Molotov cocktail towards Israeli soldiers and border policeHazem Bader/AFPPalestinian protesters put out the fire on a compatriot caused by a Molotov cocktail which he was trying to hurl at Israeli troops during clashes in the West Bank city of HebronMussa Qawasma/ReutersAn Israeli soldier fires a tear gas canister at Palestinian protesters in HebronMussa Qawasma/ReutersA Palestinian woman hurls stones at Israeli troops during clashes in the West Bank city of HebronMussa Qawasma/ReutersA Palestinian protester uses a slingshot to throw stones at Israeli soldiers after tearing down a section of a border fence between Israel and the Gaza StripMohammed Abed/AFPA Palestinian protester holds a knife as others throw stones at Israeli soldiers in the central Gaza Strip, east of BureijMohammed Abed/AFPA Palestinian with blood on his clothes clashes with Israeli troops near the border between Israel and the central Gaza StripIbraheem Abu Mustafa/ReutersA Palestinian amputee walks with a crutch during clashes with Israeli troops near the borderIbraheem Abu Mustafa/ReutersPalestinian protestors run for cover from tear gas fired by Israeli security forces after the demonstrators tore down a section of a border fence between Israel and the central Gaza StripMohammed Abed/AFPA wounded Palestinian protester is evacuated after he was shot by Israeli troops near the border between Israel and the central Gaza StripIbraheem Abu Mustafa/ReutersIsraeli security forces conduct a search in the mixed French Hill neighbourhood in mostly-Arab East JerusalemAhmad Gharabli/AFPIsraeli police check a young Palestinian man at the Damascus Gate at the entrance of the Old City in East JerusalemAhmad Gharabli/AFPA member of Israeli security forces takes pictures with his phone (possibly selfies) during clashes with Palestinians in the West Bank city of BethlehemMusa al-Shaer/AFPA member of Israeli security forces stands guard as tear gas rains down on in front of Palestinian stone throwers in the West Bank city of BethlehemMusa al-Shaer/AFPA masked Palestinian protester is seen during clashes with Israeli troops near the Jewish settlement of BeiMohamad Torokmant El, near the West Bank city of RamallahMohamad Torokman/ReutersA Palestinian youth holds a national flag during clashes with Israeli security forces near the Jewish settlement of Beit El, north of the West Bank city of RamallahAbbas Momani/AFPA Palestinian protester pulls a burning tyre during clashes with Israeli security forces near the Jewish settlement of Beit El, just north of the West Bank city of RamallahAbbas Momani/AFPArab Israelis hold Palestinian flags during a large demonstration as part of a general strike organised to support the Palestinians' "day of rage" in the northern Arab-Israeli town of SakhninJack Guez/AFPPalestinian students cover their faces and hold up axes as a fellow protester waves a national flag during an anti-Israel protest in the southern Gaza Strip town of RafahSaid Khatib/AFP
The government has thus far been unable to stop the violence, carried out mostly by young Palestinians unaffiliated with known militant groups and apparently acting on their own. The attacks have caused panic in Israel and raised fears that the region is on the cusp of a new round of heavy violence. There are many causes of the turmoil but Palestinians are angry about what they see as increased Jewish encroachment on the al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem's Old City, an area holy to both Muslims and Jews.
In two weeks of violence, eight Israelis have died in a string of stabbings, shootings and the stoning of a car, while 29 Palestinians — including children and 12 identified by Israel as attackers — have been killed.
