Jerusalem
CNN
–
Israeli forces said they shot and killed a Palestinian teenager on Wednesday in the West Bank as settler violence against Palestinians surged in the occupied territory.
The army shot 15-year-old Rayan Tamer Hawshiya in the neck. Residents of the northern town reported “heavy Israel shootings,” according to Ministry.
Israeli forces said in Al Yamoun on Wednesday that “terrorists threw explosive devices at IDF forces,” adding that no IDF injuries have been reported.
“The military then identified terrorists approaching them while holding additional explosives,” the military told CNN. “The army responded with fire and hits were identified.”
Local media reports say the 66-year-old Palestinian woman died of injuries after Israeli police shot her in the head of occupied East Jerusalem.
Palestinian news agency WAFA reported that Zahia Zhude al-Ovedi “suffled to her wounds” after Israeli police attacked the Shuafat refugee camp.
Israeli police have launched an investigation into the circumstances of the death of a “East Jerusalem resident” and added that the residents have been “dead” by medical personnel when they arrived at the checkpoint in Shurefat.
The killing came to the heels of an attack in Kahul Malik, the West Bank town of Kahru Malik, where Israeli set fire to Palestinian homes and vehicles in what Israeli opposition politicians called “violent Jewish pogroms.” Several people were killed and injured, according to Palestinian and Israeli authorities.
Details of Kafr Malik’s death are unknown. The Palestinian Foreign Ministry said settlers fired fire on Palestinian residents, but Israeli authorities said there was a firefight between Palestinian gunmen and Israeli security forces.
At least three Palestinians were killed and several were injured, Palestinian officials said. The Israeli army said “several people” had been killed in the central town, but did not specify whether they were Palestinians or Israel.
Israel has bolstered its military operations in the West Bank, ousting thousands of Palestinians and destroying the entire community as it targets what it says is extremists operating on its territory.
Last year, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the state “must deal with the “West Bank” just as it addresses Gaza’s terrorist infrastructure, including temporary evacuation of Palestinian residents.” He later warned that tens of thousands of Palestinians who fled from their homes on the West Bank would not be allowed to return.
Human Rights Watch accused Israel of “great and intentional evacuation of Palestinian civilians” and “nullify much of its territory” in violation of international law.
Israeli settlers are also increasing attacks on Palestinian communities and their property, according to the United Nations Human Rights Office.
Israeli military or settlers reported by the United Nations between October 7th and June 12th, 2023. Between October 7 and June 26, 2023, Israeli civilians killed at least 947 Palestinians on the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, between October 7 and June 12, 2023, that at least 39 Israeli civilians had been killed.
Since 1967 Israel has occupied the West Bank of the Jordan River. In late May, the Israeli government approved the largest expansion of Jewish settlements in the region in decades. Villages are considered illegal under international law;
In Kafr Malik, a social media video where CNN was planted on Earth showed residents panic as the fire consumed homes and loud pops rang out in the distance. Another video showed a car parked in flames as the resident tried to disappear with a water hose.
The IDF said security forces were deployed to the scene after “dozens of Israeli civilians” burned their property. On arrival, the security forces met in a firefight and were thrown at what they called “terrorists,” and they returned fire.
“The hit was identified and several individuals were later reported to be injured and deaths,” the IDF said, adding that five Israelis had been arrested.
Israeli opposition politician Ia Golan condemned the attacks on settlers, saying:
According to Israeli rights group B’tselem, shortly after the violence in Kafr Malik, there was an attack by settlers near the nearby village of Taybeh. Three people were injured and three cars were on fire, he said.
According to the Palestinian Red Crescent Association, a third settler attack was carried out around Jericho.
UN officials warned that they were “resting” for Palestinians on the northwest bank, and accused Israel of imposing “systematic forced displacement” on refugee communities for “violating international law.”
“From the spotlight of regional escalation, camps on the northwest shore are facing continuous destruction, with dozens of buildings being destroyed in the last 12 days,” Roland Friedrich, director of Unrwa, a Palestinian refugee agency in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, posted an X on Wednesday.
“Even today, Israeli security forces continue to demolish homes and buildings in camps in Jenin, Talkam and Nurshams. Deprived of basic dignity, many families were unable to even save their belongings prior to the expected bulldozing.”
