By Anees Bargouthi

BETHLEHEM, (AA): A Palestinian girl was killed Saturday when a Jewish settler ran her over with his vehicle in the southern occupied West Bank, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

“A Palestinian was killed after she was run over by a Jewish settler’s car near al-Khader village located near Bethlehem city in northern West Bank,” the Palestinian Ministry of Health said in a statement.

Eyewitnesses said the driver fled the scene. The ministry identified the dead Palestinian girl as 6-year-old Lama Musa.

Later in the evening, Israeli police issued a statement saying he had turned himself in and that he claimed he did not run the girl over on purpose.

Tensions have been especially high since an uptick in Israeli-Palestinian violence began last October.

According to Palestinian figures, close to 235 Palestinians have been killed since then.

Israel, for its part, says 40 Israelis have been killed over the same period.

[Photo: 6-year-old Lama Musa killed by Jewish settler by ramming into her. Photo by Imemc]