Intifada in 29th day; number of martyrs at 67

Israeli forces have killed two more Palestinians in the occupied West Bank in a pattern of shootings that has claimed scores of lives so far this month.

The Palestinian, whose age and identity has not been revealed yet, was shot dead near the city of al-Khalil ('Hebron') on Thursday after allegedly trying to stab a soldier, Israeli media said.

The Israeli soldier was reportedly lightly injured in the attack. Witnesses said Israeli troops shot the Palestinian in the shoulder and head several times.

Later, Israeli troops gunned down another Palestinian whom the military claimed had attempted to stab an Israeli soldier. But a Palestinian witness at the scene, community activist Issa Amro, dismissed the Israeli account, saying he had not seen a knife.

َAccording to the Palestinian Health Ministry, the latest deaths bring to 67 the total number of Palestinians killed since the beginning of this month. Some 7,100 others have been injured.

In a similar incident on Wednesday, Israeli forces fatally shot a Palestinian near the illegal Israeli settlement of Kiryat Arba in al-Khali for allegedly attempting to attack a soldier.

Also on Thursday, Israeli forces fired tear gas at Palestinian protesters in al-Khalil, which has been the scene of near-daily clashes between Israeli forces and protesters.

Palestinian media also said Israeli settlers, under the protection of security forces, stormed the al-Aqsa Mosque in East al-Quds ('Jerusalem') in the day.