International Courant
SEBASTIA, West Financial institution — Israeli forces on Saturday shot and killed a Palestinian in disputed circumstances within the northern West Financial institution — the most recent in an ongoing surge of violence that has gripped the area.
The Israeli military mentioned in an announcement that two Palestinian males tried to drive a automotive into troopers at Sebastia close to town of Nablus within the occupied West Financial institution, round midnight, however the declare couldn’t be verified. Troopers opened hearth, killing one and wounding the opposite.
The Palestinian Ministry of Well being recognized the younger man killed as Fawzi Makhalfeh, 18. Palestinian media quoted the victims’ household as saying the 2 didn’t goal troopers however that they have been ambushed whereas driving and their automotive was riddled with bullets.
The mayor of Sebastia, Mohammad Azem, mentioned he was one of many first to reach on the scene. He described a bloody carnage, with greater than fifty bullet holes within the chassis. “He was a college pupil,” Azem mentioned, “it was simply so brutal.”
Sebastia resident Mohammad al-Shaar mentioned he heard the capturing and rushed to the scene to seek out troopers blocking the highway. Talking subsequent to the ruined automotive, he pointed to blood stains and home windows punctured by dozens of bullet holes.
Lots of attended the funeral ceremony in Sebastia on Saturday. Makhalfeh’s father helped carry his son’s physique which was coated with the Palestinian flag whereas his head was wrapped in a keffiyeh. He informed native media his son hoped to get married quickly
Makhalfeh had simply handed his highschool exams and was in good spirits earlier than the capturing, based on native stories.
The capturing got here hours after a 17-year-old Palestinian was killed by Israeli hearth elsewhere within the West Financial institution.
The spiral of violence, which reveals no indicators of abating, is likely one of the worst between Israelis and Palestinians in years. Greater than 150 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli hearth because the begin of 2023 within the West Financial institution and east Jerusalem, based on a tally by The Related Press.
Violence between Israel and the Palestinians within the West Financial institution intensified early final yr when Israel expanded near-nightly raids into Palestinian areas in response to a spate of Palestinian assaults in opposition to Israelis.
Israel says most of these killed have been militants, however stone-throwing youths protesting military raids and others not concerned within the confrontations have additionally been killed.
Israel captured the West Financial institution within the 1967 Mideast battle, together with the Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem. Palestinians search these territories for his or her hoped-for unbiased state.
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Related Press author Sam McNeil reported from Jerusalem.
Israeli forces shoot and kill Palestinian motorist after alleged car-ramming assault in West Financial institution
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