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Photo:
Mai Yousef Afanah. Credit: Facebook Published by Haaretz
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The 29-year-old Palestinian woman tried to run over and later stab soldiers near the West Bank village of Hizma, says the Israeli army

Hagar Shezaf and Jack Khoury for Haaretz
Jun. 16, 2021 2:17 PM

A 29-year-old Palestinian woman attempted to run over and stab soldiers near the West Bank village of Hizma, north of Jerusalem, and was shot dead at the scene, the IDF said Wednesday.

According to the military, the woman – identified as Mai Yousef Afanah from Abu Dis – tried to ram a car into soldiers patrolling engineering work in the area. Moments after, Afanah exited her vehicle, wielding a knife and ran towards the soldiers. The soldiers shot at her, and she was pronounced dead at the scene.

Afanah studied psychology in Jordan, a friend told Haaretz. The friend said she didn't notice any unusual behavior in Afanah, though recently she suffered from an unspecified illness.

"I don't believe she planned a terror attack, either she lost control or wanted to commit suicide. It is sadly a known method that Palestinian women who are looking to end their lives go to the nearest checkpoint and hold a knife."