Ongoing Israeli Violence in the West Bank Continues: Palestinian Killed During Military Raid
Introduction
The ongoing Israeli violence in the occupied West Bank continued on Thursday when a Palestinian was shot and killed during a military raid.
Rising Death Toll
The death brings the number of Palestinians killed in the West Bank this year to 168, according to the Associated Press.
Growing Tensions
The killing comes amid growing tensions over ongoing Israeli raids into Palestinian areas in the occupied territory and after the release of a Jewish settler accused of involvement in last week’s murder of a 19-year-old Palestinian under house arrest.
Details of the Incident
The Palestinian Health Ministry said on Thursday that Israeli forces killed 27-year-old Amir Ahmed Khalifa in the West Bank town of Zavat, north of the city of Nablus. The area has been a hotbed of clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinians.
Israeli Military’s Response
The Israeli military said Khalifa allegedly opened fire on soldiers raiding the Nablus area, who responded with lethal force.
Armed Wing of Fatah Party
The Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigade, the armed wing of the secular Fatah party, declared Khalifa a member later Thursday.
Israel’s Justification
Israel has carried out near-night incursions into Palestinian areas in what it says is an attempt to dismantle suspected militant networks and prevent future attacks.
Violent Clashes and Death Toll
The raids provoked some of the most violent clashes between the parties in the West Bank in about two decades and added to the death toll.
Victims and Allegations
Israel claims that most of those killed are armed fighters, but stone-throwing youths protesting the raids and others not involved in the clashes were also killed.
Background and Palestinian Aspirations
Israel captured the West Bank along with the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem in the 1967 Six Day War. The Palestinians are looking for these territories for their long-awaited independent state.