News / Palestine

Israeli forces kill two Palestinians, injure three in West Bank

Monday, 16 November 2015 10:24 AM [ Last Update: Monday, 16 November 2015 7:19 PM ]

Onlookers gather near a house demolished by Israeli troops at Qalandia refugee camp in the Israeli-occupied occupied West Bank, November 16, 2015. (Photo by AFP)

At least two Palestinians have been killed and three others wounded in clashes between Israeli military forces and a group of Palestinian protesters in the occupied West Bank.

Palestinian Health Ministry spokesman Mohammed Awawdeh said the skirmishes erupted when Israeli troops stormed the Qalandia refugee camp to demolish the home of Palestinian Mohammed Abu Shahin early on Monday.

Abu Shahin is accused by Israel of fatally shooting an Israeli settler, identified as Danny Gonen, near the illegal Dolev settlement, located 27 militants (17 miles) northwest of al-Quds (Jerusalem), on June 19.

Hundreds of residents in the Qalandia refugee camp hurled stones and Molotov cocktails at Israeli forces, prompting the latter to open fire.

Residents inspect the damage in a house demolished by Israeli troops at Qalandia refugee camp in the Israeli-occupied occupied West Bank, November 16, 2015. (Photo by AFP)

On Saturday, Israeli troops destroyed three houses belonging to Palestinians in the northern West Bank city of Nablus, approximately 49 kilometers (30 miles) north of al-Quds, and the other in the town of Silwad, located 12 kilometers (7.4 miles) northeast of Ramallah.

Nine Palestinians were wounded during clashes that followed the demolitions. Two of the injured Palestinians were struck by live ammunition.

Also on Monday, Israeli forces arrested seven Palestinians during a series of raids on a number of houses in al-Khalil (Hebron), situated 30 kilometers (19 miles) south of al-Quds.

The Israeli forces broke into the homes and rummaged through them, causing excessive property damage before detaining the Palestinians.

Israeli soldiers drag a Palestinian protester during clashes in the occupied West Bank city of Bethlehem, November 6, 2015. (Photo by AFP)

Tensions in the occupied territories have dramatically escalated since the Israeli regime’s imposition of restrictions in August on the entry of Palestinian worshipers to the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in East al-Quds.

Palestinians are angry at increasing violence by Israeli settlers at the al-Aqsa Mosque compound and the latter’s attacks on Palestinian properties, saying that the Tel Aviv regime seeks to change the status quo of the compound.

Last month, senior Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh called the recent spate of clashes between Palestinians and Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank and East al-Quds an Intifada (uprising) against the Tel Aviv regime.

Nearly 90 Palestinians have been killed in the recent escalation of violence since the start of October.

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