Palestinian teen killed by Israeli forces in Jerusalem’s Old City

A Palestinian teenager was shot dead by Israeli forces after he was accused of firing at soldiers in the Old City of occupied East Jerusalem on Monday night.

According to Israeli police, the teen, identified by local media as 17-year-old Mahmoud Omar Kameel, approached a police post near the Lion’s Gate entrance to the Old City and shot at them.

“The police and border guard fighters working in the Old City chased him on foot, while he was shooting at them,” the Israeli police said in a statement.

Witnesses said Israeli forces shot Kameel multiple times after chasing him and surrounding him in the area.

Immediately following the shooting, Israeli forces closed the gates leading to the Old City and barred access to the Al Aqsa Mosque compound.

Kameel belonged to the village of Qabatiyeh near the occupied West Bank city of Jenin.

There was no immediate comment from Palestinian officials following the incident.

Israel captured East Jerusalem during the 1967 war and later annexed the territory, in a move that has not been recognised by the international community.

In 2018, the United States became the first country to move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, thus recognising the city as the capital of Israel.