JERUSALEM, June 2 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli army Saturday "thwarted" an attempt of car-ramming attack in the West Bank city of Hebron and shot the Palestinian attacker dead.
A preliminary investigation indicated that the 35-year-old attacker from Beit Ummar, northwest of Hebron, attempted to run over an officer and a soldier of the Israeli army with a small "Bobcat" tractor vehicle, said the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in a statement issued on Saturday.
"In response, the troops operated in accordance with the rules of engagement. However, the attacker turned around and continued driving with the intention to attack nearby civilians," said the IDF.
"An additional soldier positioned on top of the roof of a nearby building identified the threat to the civilians who stood nearby and, in response, fired at and killed the attacker," added the Israeli army.
No IDF troops were injured in the car-ramming attack, said the IDF.
In addition, the IDF Saturday fired at Palestinians from the Gaza Strip who were trying to "damage security infrastructure within Israeli territory along the Gaza border."
"IDF troops responded by arriving at the scene and firing towards the suspects, who returned to the Gaza Strip," said the IDF.
On Friday, thousands of Palestinians gathered in five locations along the Gaza Strip security fence. They burned tires adjacent to the security fence and attempted to damage security infrastructure, according to the Israeli army.
The IDF added that during the violent riots, an IDF vehicle was burned and a suspect was identified crossing the security fence in the northern Gaza Strip and planting a grenade which exploded as he returned. No IDF injuries were reported.
A volunteer medic was shot dead on Friday by Israeli soldiers during the clashes along the Gaza Strip border and about 100 protesters were injured, said the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza.
Israeli media reported that the Israeli military was investigating the apparent killing by its troops of the Palestinian nurse on Friday during protests along the Gaza border.
