Israeli wounded in stabbing attack in central Israel

An Israeli man was stabbed on Wednesday evening in a shopping mall in central Israel, as tensions continue to mount in the region.

The man, who was hospitalised with non-critical injuries, was attacked in a large shopping mall in the central Israeli city of Petah Tikva, 10km east of Tel Aviv.

The attacker, currently unidentified, was subdued at the scene by police.

The incident is the latest in a string of violent attacks in Israel and the Palestinian territories on Wednesday.

A Palestinian woman was shot and wounded outside Jersualem's Old City, while a Palestinian man was shot dead in the southern Israeli city of Kiryat Gat earlier on Wednesday.

According to Israeli police, the unidentified Palestinian woman allegedly tried to attack two Israeli men outside the Lion Gate of the Old City early on Wednesday morning. The victims of the attack were reportedly only lightly injured, while the Palestinian woman has been seriously wounded.

However, eyewitnesses at the scene told Middle East Eye that the Palestinian woman was unarmed and was defending herself after being physically attacked by two Israeli settlers who attempted to pull her hijab off. According to these reports, one of the settlers then drew his pistol and opened fire.

The incident in Kiryat Gat allegedly involved a Palestinian man's failed attempt to take an Israeli soldier's weapon from him. He had allegedly stabbed him the back before being gunned down, according to Israeli security sources.

These latest incidents come just days after two Israelis were killed in a knife and gun attack in the Old City that prompted a temporary ban on Palestinians other than residents, business owners and schoolchildren entering the historic district.

More to follow.