Israeli forces kill Palestinian, 22, in Tulkarem raid

Israeli forces round up 24 Palestinians in predawn raids across occupied West Bank.

Protest against US decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel''s capital TULKARM, WEST BANK - DECEMBER 18: Israeli forces intervene in Palestinian protesters during a demonstration against U.S.
Israeli forces intervene during a Palestinian demonstration held in Tulkarem in December 2017 [Nedal Eshtayah/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images]

Israeli forces have killed a young Palestinian man during a predawn raid in Tulkarem in the occupied West Bank.

Mohammed Hossam Abdel Latif Habali, 22, was shot in the head and lower limbs with live ammunition early on Tuesday, the Palestinian news agency Wafa reported.

He was rushed to Thabet Thabet Hospital in Tulkarem, where he was pronounced dead.

Wafa reported that Israeli forces raided a number of Palestinian homes in several neighbourhoods and that a crowd gathered in the area. Local sources said Israeli forces fired live bullets, rubber-coated steel bullets and tear gas.

An Israeli military spokesperson said that while troops were operating there, “a violent riot was instigated in which dozens of Palestinians hurled rocks”.

“Troops responded with riot dispersal means and later on with live fire,” the spokesperson said.

Another young Palestinian man was reportedly injured by Israeli fire.

Overnight raids    

According to a Palestinian NGO, Israeli forces rounded up 24 Palestinians in overnight raids carried out on Tuesday across the occupied West Bank.

In a statement, the Palestinian Prisoners Society said 10 people were arrested in raids in the cities of Bethlehem and Hebron in the southern West Bank.

Nine more Palestinians, including two children, were detained in the cities of Nablus and Tubas and another five were arrested in the city of Ramallah and the town of Hizma, northeast of Jerusalem.

The Israeli military has yet to issue a statement on the arrests.

The Israeli army frequently carries out wide-ranging arrest campaigns across the occupied West Bank on the pretext of searching for “wanted” Palestinians.

It says its raids are necessary to detain violent criminals and potential attackers.   

According to Palestinian statistics, more than 6,500 Palestinians continue to languish in Israeli detention facilities, including six parliament members, 52 women and 270 minors.

The Palestinian Authority, which has limited autonomy in parts of the West Bank, says such raids are a breach of agreements Israel has signed up to under the Oslo II Accord.

Tulkarem is located in Area A, under full civil and security control by the Palestinian Authority.

During the month of November, Israeli forces killed 24 Palestinians (21 in Gaza and three in the West Bank). They also arrested 260 Palestinians, including children, and issued 33 deportation orders against Palestinian officials in Jerusalem.

Source: Al Jazeera, News Agencies