Israeli soldiers shot yesterday a Palestinian opened fire on an Israeli who, despite the legal ban, entered the Palestinian city of Qalqilya in the occupied West Bank, the Israeli army announced, quoted by DPA and BTA
The killed Palestinian managed to injure not only the Israeli, but also two other Palestinians.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health identified the shooter as an 18-year-old local resident. In his profile on social networks, there is a photo of him posing in what looks like a military uniform with a machine gun in his hands, DPA points out.
The Islamist group "Hamas" announced that the attacker was its member.
Violence in the West Bank has escalated since the start of the war in Gaza, with Israeli military operations becoming more frequent and attacks by Jewish settlers and street attacks by Palestinians increasing, DPA notes.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken plans to leave today on his next tour in the Middle East, amid the escalation of tensions in the region, reported the reporter of "Axios" Barak Ravid, citing a well-informed source, told Reuters and BTA.
Blinken is expected to visit Qatar, Egypt and Israel, Ravid added.
American President Joe Biden discussed with the leaders of France, Germany, Italy and Great Britain the possibilities for de-escalation of tensions in the Middle East, reported Reuters, quoted by BTA.
The White House released a joint statement from the consultations, saying the five leaders supported the call by the US, Qatar and Egypt to resume talks on a Gaza ceasefire and reach an agreement as soon as possible.
They "emphasized that there is no more time to waste," the statement said.
The statement also expressed support for Israel against any Iranian threat, while calling for the distribution and delivery of aid to Gaza.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer yesterday called on Iran "to refrain from attacking Israel" in a video conference call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, reported France Presse, quoted by BTA.
"The Prime Minister said he was deeply concerned by the situation in the region and called on all parties to work to de-escalate tensions and avoid further regional confrontation," Starmer's spokeswoman said.
"There is a serious risk of misjudgment and now is the time to calm down and think carefully," the spokeswoman quoted the British prime minister as saying.
Starmer told Pezeshkian that war was not in anyone's interest, and the two leaders agreed that constructive dialogue between the two countries was in their mutual interest, the spokeswoman said, quoted by Reuters.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau today called on Canadian citizens to "immediately leave" Lebanon, citing the "extremely dangerous situation" in the region, reported France Press, quoted by BTA.
"It is the responsibility of all Canadians to do everything possible to leave Lebanon while the airports are still open," Trudeau said, saying the risk of escalating violence between Israel and the Lebanese Shiite group "Hezbollah" is real.
According to Canadian authorities, about 20,000 Canadians are in Lebanon, and at the end of June Canada advised its citizens not to visit the country, due to the "unstable and unpredictable" situation.
The Canadian military has established a crisis response unit in Cyprus to evacuate its citizens from the region if passenger flights are disrupted.
"We are trying to prepare for all possible scenarios, but the best thing Canadians can do is avoid staying in the Middle East," added Trudeau.