Two Palestinian teenagers shot dead in West Bank

Two Palestinian teenagers were shot and killed Sunday by Israeli forces in the northern part of the occupied West Bank.

The Israelis opened fire on the pair near the town of al-Araqah in the Jenin Governorate in the northern area of West Bank, alleging that they had attacked an Israeli patrol, Palestinian Ma’an news agency reported.

The Israeli soldiers prevented Palestinian Red Crescent ambulances from reaching the scene of the incident to provide the two with medical treatment.

A Palestinian Red Crescent spokesman said the Palestinian Health Ministry later contacted the organization to inform them that the pair had succumbed to their wounds.

The ministry identified the dead as Nihad Waked and Fuad Waked, both 15 years of age.

No Israeli soldier was killed or injured in the alleged attack.

On Saturday, Israeli regime forces killed a Palestinian woman who was purportedly trying to stab an Israeli soldier in the West Bank city of al-Khalil (Hebron) while three other Palestinians sustained injuries in Israeli fire in East al-Quds (Jerusalem) in a separate development.

Since the start of October 2015, at least 178 Palestinians, including women and children, have been killed by Israeli forces in what is regarded as the third Palestinian Intifada (uprising).

The Israeli violence against defenseless Palestinians living in the occupied territories has added to the already tense situation there.

Israel imposed in August 2015 restrictions on the entry of Palestinian worshipers into the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in East al-Quds.

The restrictions have caused tension among the Palestinian population, who are already frustrated over an increasing number of violent acts demonstrated by Israeli settlers, backed by soldiers, frequently storming the al-Aqsa Mosque.

The Palestinians say the Tel Aviv regime seeks to change the status quo of the holy Muslim compound.

Al-Aqsa Mosque is the third holiest site in Islam after Masjid al-Haram in Mecca and Masjid al-Nabawi in Medina.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk