Israeli forces shoot, critically injure another Palestinian youth

Israeli forces have shot and wounded yet another young Palestinian man during clashes with a group of Palestinian youths in the occupied East al-Quds (Jerusalem).

The head of the emergency department at the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS), Amin Abu Ghazalah, said the skirmishes broke out in the predominantly Palestinian neighborhood of Beit Hanina in East al-Quds on Monday evening.

An unnamed Palestinian youth was shot in the chest when Israeli troops fired live rounds to disperse the crowd. The young Palestinian was transferred to the al-Makassed hospital, where he is said to be in critical condition.

Mounting tensions

Meanwhile, the PRCS says nearly 500 Palestinians have sustained injuries during clashes with Israeli soldiers and settlers across the occupied Palestinian territories since Saturday.

The al-Bireh-based humanitarian organization said at least 180 Palestinians were shot by live rounds or rubber-coated steel bullets. Others were physically assaulted or suffered excessive tear gas inhalation.

On Sunday, the PRCS declared a level-three state of emergency in the West Bank and East al-Quds, calling on the international community to take necessary steps and to force Israel to comply with international law.

‘Cycle of violence’

A 13-year-old Palestinian teenage boy, identified as Abed al-Rahman Shadi Obeidallah, was shot by Israeli forces during clashes in the Aida refugee camp in Bethlehem on Monday.

He was taken to the Beit Jala hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly afterward due to the severity of the gunshot wound near his heart.

In a statement on Monday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas slammed the Tel Aviv regime for the escalation of tensions.

The statement from Abbas’ office said Israel has an interest “in dragging things into a cycle of violence” due to the turmoil in the al-Aqsa Mosque compound.

On Sunday morning, Israeli police officers shot dead a Palestinian teenager, identified as Fadi Samir Mustafa Alloun, near the Damascus Gate of the al-Aqsa Mosque compound, claiming that he had attempted to stab an Israeli settler with a knife, according to the Palestinian Ma’an news agency.

There are reports that Israeli settlers kicked Alloun’s body later on, and dragged it along the street.

Also on Sunday night, another teenager was killed during clashes in the occupied northern West Bank city of Tulkarm, located about 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) west of Nablus.

Israeli forces and Palestinians have been clashing at the al-Aqsa Mosque compound for weeks now.

On September 17, Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations (UN), lashed out at the UN Security Council for its failure to condemn the ongoing Israeli aggression against Muslim worshipers at the holy place of worship.

Iranian reaction

On Tuesday, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marziyeh Afkham strongly condemned the Tel Aviv regime over its aggression against the defenseless Palestinian people, particularly in the West Bank, and the death of young Palestinians at the hands of Israeli troops.

Afkham once again warned of the consequences of the Israelis’ desecration and violation of the al-Aqsa Mosque compound.

Israel has applied sweeping restrictions on entries into the al-Aqsa Mosque compound since August 26. The site is Islam’s third holiest after Masjid al-Haram in Mecca and Masjid al-Nabawi in Medina.

‘Morally bankrupt approach’

Meanwhile, in an exclusive interview with Press TV’s website on Tuesday, Richard Silverstesin, a journalist and blogger, described the escalating tensions between Palestinians and Israelis in al-Quds as “very alarming.”

He stressed that Israel’s suppression of Palestinian protests rather than addressing them is simply exacerbating the situation.

“Israel’s approach to this issue will fail and the murder of Palestinians is a morally bankrupt approach… The rights of Palestinians to return to their own nation must be recognized, and the end of occupation must happen. Without satisfying these elementary demands of Palestinians, this will go on forever until the international community intervenes in some meaningful way to force Israel to adhere to a reasonable settlement,” he said.

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www.presstv.ir