An Israeli policewoman died from her wounds after being shot in the head on Wednesday during an attack launched by three Palestinian militants.

The incident took place in front of the walled Old City in annexed east Jerusalem and occurred after two policewomen stopped the assailants to check their identification papers.

Two of the attackers opened fire while the third stabbed one of the officers. All three attackers were shot dead by police.

No end to violence

One of the women, 19-year-old Hadar Cohen, was reported dead later that day.

The militants were apparently also carrying explosive devices, which were defused by police.

Israel has seen a wave of such attacks committed by Palestinians since mid-September. Some 27 Israelis have died since the beginning of the violence, and while more than 150 Palestinians have lost their lives.

Earlier on Wednesday, a leader of militant organization Hamas announced two of its men had been killed after a tunnel they were digging from Gaza to Israel collapsed on top of them. Such tunnels have frequently been used by Hamas to launch attacks on Israelis.

blc/sms (AFP, AP, dpa)