NABLUS: Israeli forces killed a Palestinian citizen in the occupied West Bank Wednesday, according to the Palestinian health ministry. The Israeli army confirmed it had conducted a “counter-terrorism” operation in a refugee camp in Nablus.
The deceased, identified as Mohammed Abd al-Hakim Nada, was shot in the chest during the military operation. The Israeli army confirmed the operation in Al-Ain camp, Nablus, stating that suspects had fired and hurled rocks and paint bottles at the soldiers, prompting a live fire response. The troops identified a hit after an armed assailant fired at the soldiers.
Eyewitnesses reported that Israeli forces stormed the Al-Muhayim neighborhood, surrounding a house and eventually arresting one Palestinian. The army stated that the individual apprehended was suspected of involvement in terrorist activity.
The Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades, a Palestinian group linked to President Mahmud Abbas’s Fatah movement, claimed that its fighters had ambushed a unit of special forces in the alleys of Al-Ain camp, inflicting casualties. However, it was not specified whether the deceased man was one of the group’s fighters.
Israeli Forces’ Atrocities in West Bank
Following the incident, the Palestinian group Hamas, which governs the Gaza Strip, condemned what they termed a “Zionist crime in Nablus” and called on all Palestinian factions to confront the Israeli government.
The latest fatality comes just one day after three Palestinians were killed in an exchange of fire in Nablus, according to the Palestinian health ministry. Hamas identified the three as members of its armed wing.
The West Bank has been a site of frequent violence, with attacks by Palestinians on Israeli targets and violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinian communities. The situation has heightened tensions in the region and raised concerns about the potential for further escalation.
So far this year, violence linked to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has claimed the lives of at least 202 Palestinians and 27 Israelis, according to an AFP tally. The ongoing conflict continues to pose significant challenges to regional stability and peace efforts, with civilian casualties adding to the already complex dynamics of the situation.
The West Bank, home to nearly three million Palestinians, is also host to around 490,000 Israeli settlers, residing in settlements considered illegal under international law, adding to the complexities of the territorial dispute.
