A 13-year-old Palestinian girl was shot to death by Israeli troops in occupied East Jerusalem on Saturday after Israeli police claimed that she tried to attack an Israeli security guard with a knife.

According to Israeli police, Rokaya Abu Eid was shot dead at the entrance of the Jewish-only Anathoth settlement in northern Jerusalem.

Local Palestinian sources said that, following the incident, the Israeli army had detained Abu Eid’s father and taken him to a police station in the Jewish-only Ma’ale Adumim settlement.

According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, Abu Eid’s death on Saturday brings the total number of Palestinians killed by Israeli troops since Oct. 1 of last year to 164, including 31 minors.

At least 20 of the minors slain by Israeli troops over this period were killed "in cold blood" at Israeli army checkpoints, according to official Palestinian figures, while the body of Hasan Manasra -- a 15-year-old Palestinian boy killed last October -- has yet to be handed over to his family by the Israeli authorities.

PHOTO CAPTION

Flares fired by the Israeli Army illuminate the Jewish settlement of Otniel, in the West Bank, 17 January 2016

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