Ramallah, October 30 (RHC)-- Israeli forces have shot and killed two Palestinians in the West Bank city of Nablus after accusing them of staging stabbing attacks. The two Palestinians were shot and killed by Israeli troops at the Za’atara military checkpoint in southern Nablus on Friday.

Israeli forces claimed that the two Palestinians, who were riding a motorcycle at the time of the incident, attempted to stab Israeli soldiers.

The latest deaths bring to 70 the total number of Palestinians killed since the beginning of this month. Some 7,200 others have been injured.

Tensions in the occupied territories have dramatically escalated in recent weeks, prompting many to believe that a third Intifada is underway.