According to Palestinian health officials, during an arrest raid by Israeli forces in a refugee camp outside the city of Jericho in the occupied West Bank, a Palestinian teenager was shot dead, leading to clashes. The Palestinian health ministry confirmed that 17-year-old Jibril Kamal was killed after being shot in the head, while six others were injured during the raid, with three in critical condition.
According to the Israeli military, their troops fired at suspects who shot at them during a raid on the Aqabat Jabr refugee camp, with specific targets identified.
Videos circulating on social media showed armored military vehicles moving between houses while gunshots were heard in the background.
The military established checkpoints to control movement in and out of the area, as reported by a Reuters journalist.
The operation in Jericho was part of a larger effort across the West Bank on Monday that led to the arrest of at least 17 people and the seizure of weapons.
In the troubled city of Jenin, the Islamic Jihad movement stated that one of its officials, Mahdi Al Sharqawi, was arrested.
The director of Jericho Hospital, Naser Anani, spoke to Reuters and described the situation as very difficult, saying that it exists in every city, in every refugee camp and that it is the price Palestinians pay for resisting the occupation.
Jericho Governor, Jihad Abu Al Asal, stated that the Israeli government must be held responsible and urged the world not to leave the refugee camp vulnerable to the occupation.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian health ministry reported that a 20-year-old Palestinian was critically wounded by Israeli soldiers in Bethlehem on Monday morning. The military, however, denied knowledge of any wounded individuals in the Bethlehem area, where security forces reportedly seized weapons.
This year has seen a surge in Israeli-Palestinian violence, with frequent military raids and violence by Israeli settlers amid a spate of Palestinian attacks. Since January, over 90 Palestinians and at least 19 Israelis and foreigners have been killed.
Following the 1967 Middle East war, Israel gained control of the West Bank, which Palestinians aspire to be the foundation of their future sovereign state. Despite stalled statehood negotiations brokered by the US, Israel has continued to construct significant settlements in the area.
