Palestinian shot dead after alleged West Bank attack

RAMALLAH, Palestine

A Palestinian man was shot dead by Israeli forces on Wednesday after allegedly trying to ram his car into a group of Israelis in the occupied West Bank, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

“Souhaib Mashahreh, 31, was shot dead by Israeli army troops near the West Bank city of Bethlehem,” the ministry said in a statement.

The Israeli army, for its part, said Mashahreh had been shot after carrying out a vehicular attack at the Gush Etzion Junction in the southern West Bank.

According to the army, one Israeli was slightly injured in the alleged car attack.

Since October of 2015, more than 270 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli police during -- or immediately after -- alleged attacks on Israelis or in clashes with Israeli security forces, according to Palestinian figures.

The Israeli authorities, meanwhile, say at least 48 Israelis have been killed in attacks by Palestinians over the same period.