A 13-year-old girl was stabbed to death by a 17-year-old Palestinian while sleeping in a West Bank settlement and officials have confirmed that the teenager was a United States national.
Fox News reported that officials are describing the killing as an "outrageous terrorist attack." The teen was identified by the State Department as Haller Ariel. She was killed on Thursday after the Palestinian teenager broke into the home in a West Bank settlement.
U.S. State Department spokesman, John Kirby, said that they condemn the attack adding that the brutal attack of terrorism is "unconscionable." Kirby added that the State Department extends their deepest condolences to the family of Ariel. He continued, "We also understand another individual who was responding to the attack was wounded by the attacker. We extend our hopes for a quick and full recovery."
The attacker, identified by the Palestinian Health Ministry as Mohammed Tarayreh, was killed when he was shot by security guards. This is the latest attack in the ongoing wave of violence in the area, which has been going on for nine months now. The teenager reportedly lived in the nearby village of Bani Naim.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also released a statement saying that the horrifying murder of the young girl in her bed "underscores the bloodlust and inhumanity" of the terrorists.
The home where the victim has been living is said to be in Kiryat Arba. It is located near the Palestinian city of Hebron and has been the center of violence. Palestinians have been carrying out different attacks since September of last year. The attacks killed a total of 33 Israelis and two American tourists. Around 200 Palestinians, on the other hand, have been killed. Most of the Palestinian casualties are the attackers. Around 64 Palestinian civilians have been killed.
Israeli security forces have been having a difficult time in stopping the attackers because they tend to be lone wolf assailants. Most of them are teenagers or are in their early 20s.
