Two Palestinian teens arrested in stabbing attacks in Jerusalem

Another recent non-fatal attack was carried out by a 13-year old, who was shot when one of the two people he wounded, an off-duty soldier, returned fire

Israeli security at the scene of a terror attack, when an Israeli border police was critically hurt in a stabbing attack at a checkpoint in Shuafat, Jerusalem. Feb. 13, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/FLASH90)

By Ron Kampeas February 13, 2023

(JTA) — Israeli troops arrested two Palestinian boys, ages 13 and 14, after separate stabbing attacks in Jerusalem on Monday.

Police shot and arrested a 13-year-old after he allegedly stabbed and critically injured a 20-year-old border police officer who got onto a bus at a checkpoint outside the Shuafat refugee camp in eastern Jerusalem. The officer needed CPR, according to the United Hatzalah emergency medical service.

Earlier, police arrested a 14-year-old Palestinian after he allegedly stabbed a 17-year-old boy in Jerusalem’s Old City, Haaretz reported.

Kan, Israel’s public broadcaster, quoted police as saying that Palestinian terror groups are using TikTok videos and other social media to encourage young teens in the Jerusalem area to carry out attacks.

Israeli-Palestinian violence has intensified in recent weeks, with a number of attacks on Jews in Jerusalem, including two that were deadly. One non-fatal shooting attack near the Old City was carried out by a 13-year old, who was shot when one of the two people he wounded, an off-duty soldier, returned fire.

On Friday, a Palestinian man rammed his car into a bus stop outside the eastern Jerusalem neighborhood of Ramot, killing three people, including two brothers, aged 6 and 8. The attacker was killed.

The attacks have come amid escalating violence in the region. Israeli troops have been carrying out deadly raids in the West Bank, seeking armed militants who Israeli authorities say are planning terrorist attacks. An Israeli raid in the northern West Bank city of Jenin in late January killed 10 people, including two civilians. Terrorist groups based in the Gaza Strip have fired rockets into Israel, and Israel has responded with air raids.

On Sunday, Israel’s government gave recognition to nine previously unrecognized settlements in the West Bank in retaliation for the attacks.

This article originally appeared on JTA.org.

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