Israeli forces shoot dead Palestinian man in Ashkelon

According to media reports, the shooting took place on Sunday after the young Palestinian man allegedly stabbed an Israeli soldier onboard a bus in the coastal city of Ashkelon, situated 50 kilometers (31 miles) south of Tel Aviv.

The killing came two days after the Israeli regime’s forces opened fire on two Palestinian minors who reportedly attempted to throw Molotov cocktails at vehicles in the town of Halhul north of the city of al-Khalil (Hebron), killing one and injuring the other.

Also on February 3, three Palestinians were shot and killed in al-Quds (Jerusalem) on the accusation of attacking Israeli police.

The occupied Palestinian territories have been the scene of heightened tensions. The latest wave of tensions was triggered by Israel’s imposition in August 2015 of restrictions on the entry of Palestinian worshipers into the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in East al-Quds.

The restrictions have enraged Palestinians, who are also angry at increasing violence by Israeli settlers frequently storming the al-Aqsa Mosque.

The Palestinians say the Tel Aviv regime seeks to change the status quo of the compound.

Al-Aqsa Mosque is the third holiest site in Islam after Masjid al-Haram in Mecca and Masjid al-Nabawi in Medina.

More than 170 Palestinians, including children and women, have lost their lives at the hands of Israeli forces since the beginning of last October.