Palestinian killed during Israeli army raid in northern West Bank

Jerusalem, Sep 1 (EFE).- A Palestinian man was shot dead Friday during an Israeli army raid in the northern occupied West Bank that led to clashes, officials said, amid a serious upsurge in violence in the region.

“Abdul Rahim Fayez Ghanem, 36, was killed by gunshots to the head, in the town of Aqabah, in the Tubas area,” the Palestinian National Authority Health Ministry reported.

The shooting came from “Israeli occupation forces,” said the official Palestinian news agency, Wafa.

The Israeli army confirmed the operation in Aqabah, with its forces using “rocket launchers and grenade launchers,” a military spokesman said, confirming that there was a shootout between militants and Israeli troops.

Two Palestinians were arrested, while two homemade explosive devices, military equipment, a pistol and magazines were seized.

Meanwhile, the Israeli army arrested seven other Palestinians in separate operations in Beit Umar, Wadi Siman and in the city of Nablus.

Early Friday morning, the Israeli army carried out an operation in the village of Deir Amar, in the central West Bank, to locate the family home of the Palestinian who on Thursday allegedly intentionally rammed into a military checkpoint, killing one Israeli soldier and wounding three others.

The alleged attacker was shot dead by authorities after the incident.

During the operation to locate his home, “violent disturbances developed, with suspects throwing stones and Molotov cocktails at the forces, who responded with dispersal measures,” the military spokesman said.

Israeli forces often locate and then demolish the homes of the alleged perpetrators of deadly attacks, a policy that has been strongly condemned by international human rights organizations as “collective punishment”.

Violence has escalated significantly this year in the West Bank, Jerusalem and several Israeli cities, an area experiencing its bloodiest year since the Second Intifada (2000-2005).EFE

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