The Israeli military has killed a 15-year-old Palestinian boy during a raid in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian health ministry confirmed in a statement released on Saturday. The incident occurred late on Friday near Bethlehem, adding to a surge of violence in the region.
Details of the Fatal Shooting
According to the Palestinian health ministry, the teenager succumbed to his injuries after arriving at a hospital in critical condition. He had sustained a gunshot wound to the abdomen. The Palestinian WAFA state news agency reported that the boy was shot in the Dheisheh refugee camp during an Israeli military operation.
The Israeli military issued a statement acknowledging that soldiers opened fire during what it described as a "violent riot" near Bethlehem, where stones were thrown at troops. The statement did not identify the Palestinian killed or provide specific reasons for the forces' presence in the area.
Escalating Violence in the West Bank
This fatality represents the third reported killing of a Palestinian by Israeli forces in the West Bank on Friday alone. Earlier that day, WAFA reported that two Palestinian men had been shot dead by Israeli troops. The West Bank has experienced a significant increase in violence since October 2023, following Hamas's deadly attack on Israel from Gaza.
In response, the Israeli military has imposed stricter restrictions on Palestinian movement and conducted raids that have displaced entire communities. Concurrently, violence perpetrated by Israeli settlers against Palestinians has risen, while Palestinians have also carried out deadly attacks against Israelis.
Broader Regional Conflict
Meanwhile, in Gaza, local health officials and medics reported that the Israeli military killed three Palestinian men in two separate air strikes on Saturday. One man died in an air strike on a car in the Khan Younis area of southern Gaza, while two adult brothers were killed in the Shujiaya neighborhood east of Gaza City.
The Israeli military did not immediately comment on these air strikes. According to local health officials, more than 680 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since a ceasefire with Hamas took effect in November, with over 72,000 fatalities since the war began in October 2023.
Ongoing Military Campaigns
Israel is currently engaged in a war alongside the United States against Iran and has launched a new campaign against Hezbollah, involving an invasion of southern Lebanon. The Hamas-affiliated Shehab News Agency claimed that the two brothers killed in Gaza were targeted by an Israeli air strike after an Israeli-backed Palestinian militia attempted to abduct them.
Witnesses told Reuters that the brothers, who were armed with guns, clashed with the militia and were later targeted by drones, with Israeli tanks also opening fire. Neither Hamas nor any other militant group has identified the brothers as members.
Violence in Gaza persists despite the ceasefire, exacerbated by Israel's conflict with Iran. Health officials in Gaza report that at least 40 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces since the Iran conflict began a month ago, highlighting the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region.
