Palestinian woman shot and killed by Israeli forces

A 72-year-old Palestinian woman was shot and killed by Israeli forces on Friday near the West Bank city of Hebron.

The military claims she allegedly attempted to run over soldiers after she "slowed down, then sped up and drove the car toward the soldiers". The "troops jumped out of the way and were not hurt", it added.

But the victim, Sarwa al-Sharawi, was driving in pouring rain at the time, Palestinian medics have said. 

Her son added that his mother was on her way to her sister's home for lunch and stopped at a gas station to refuel her car. 

Sharawi was taken to the Shaare Zedek Medical Centre in Jerusalem in a serious condition, where she later died. 

A 23-year-old Palestinian was also killed in a seperate incident, during demonstrations in Gaza.

Salame Abu Jamaa, was shot in the head during a protest east of Khan Yunis, health ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra said.

Friday's killings come at a tense time, after almost two months of Israeli-Palestinian confrontations.

During this time, over 70 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire, including 45 who Israel allege to be involved in attacks or attempted attacks.

Eleven Israelis have died in Palestinian attacks, most of them in stabbings.

The latest unrest erupted in mid-September, with clashes at a sensitive Jerusalem holy site, and quickly spread.