Israeli military shoots two Palestinians in West Bank
A spokesman for Abbas, called the raid an ‘Israeli crime’ and said the entire region will remain in a cycle of violence until the occupation is ended and a just peace is achieved
Israeli forces killed two Palestinians during an overnight raid in the occupied West Bank, officials on the two sides said on Sunday, in what Israel described as a shootout with gunmen.
The Israeli army said it carried out operations and used live fire in several locations, including in Nablus, adding it arrested four “individuals suspected of involvement in terrorist activities.”
The military said “hits” were identified against multiple “terrorists” and said there were no reported wounded on its own side.
The Palestinian health ministry identified the dead as Muhamad Azizi, 25, who it said was killed by a bullet to the chest, and Abdul Rahman Jamal Suleiman Sobh, 28, who was shot in the head.
The Palestinian Red Crescent reported treating 19 wounded in Nablus, including 10 people hit by live fire.
Israel’s security forces have launched near-daily operations in the West Bank following a spate of atacks in Israel in recent months. The Jewish state has occupied the West Bank since 1967.
Israel’s Prime Minister Yair Lapid said those targeted in the overnight raid were linked to recent “shooting atacks” on Israelis, and he commended the security forces for an “efficient and successful operation.”
“Several terrorists were killed in the exchanges of fire and several more were wounded. Considerable weaponry was seized,” Lapid said.
Nabil Abu Rudeina, a spokesman for Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas, called the raid an “Israeli crime.”
“The entire region will remain in a cycle of violence until the occupation is ended and a just peace is achieved,” he added in a statement to Voice of Palestine radio.
The Israeli army said in a statement that its operation in Nablus was carried out alongside police, and that it also launched operations in several other locations including the town of Mughayir, Ayda camp and the city of Jenin.
It said the operation in Nablus was launched “to apprehend armed terrorist suspects.”
“An exchange of fire took place between the armed suspects and Israeli forces. Hits on a number of terrorists were identified,” it said.
The Israeli military alleged that a “violent riot was instigated” during the “operational activity.”
“The rioters hurled explosive devices and rocks and shot at... soldiers, endangering their lives,” it said. “The soldiers responded with riot dispersal means and live fire.”
The military also said it had operated alongside Israel Border Police in the village of Qabatiya to “apprehend two... suspected of involvement in terrorist activities.”
“Armed suspects shot at the soldiers, who responded with live fire,” it added.
At least 52 Palestinians have been killed since late March, mostly in the West Bank, among them suspected militants and also non-combatants, including Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, a Palestinian-american dual national, who was covering an Israeli raid in Jenin.
Over the same period, 19 people - the majority Israeli civilians inside Israel - have been killed, mainly in atacks by Palestinians. Three Israeli Arab atackers have also been killed.
A neighbour, Naser Estitya, 60, said he heard gunshots from inside the house before the Israelis fired at the house. “They were calling the name of one person, asking him to surrender,” he said.
Photos from the scene showed part of the wall at the top floor had been destroyed.
“Another crime commited by the occupation forces in the old city of #Nablus, where martyrs have fallen and many wounded,” Hussein Al Sheikh, a senior Palestinian official, said on Twiter.
“We strongly condemn this crime, and we hold the occupation responsibility for its repercussions.” Us-brokered peace talks aimed at establishing a Palestinian state in East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza collapsed in 2014 and have shown no sign of revival.
Israeli forces have stepped up raids in recent months in the West Bank ater men from the area carried out deadly street atacks in Israel.
The Western-backed Palestinian Authority regularly condemns such incursions.
Separately, the Palestinian fishermen’s union said two crew members dove into Mediterranean waters and swam to safety before the Israeli navy fired on their boat.