News / Palestine

Israeli forces shoot, critically injure Palestinian student in West Bank

Thursday, 18 April 2019 4:05 PM [ Last Update: Thursday, 18 April 2019 11:31 PM ]

Israeli military forces have shot and critically injured a Palestinian student after skirmishes broke out between a group of young protesters and Israeli soldiers in the central part of the occupied West Bank.

Local Palestinian sources, requesting not to be named, said clashes broke out on Thursday afternoon following the funeral procession of 42-year-old Palestinian teacher Fatima Suleiman, whom a settler had run over and killed in the Khirbat al-Dayr district of the town of Tuqu’, located 12 kilometers southeast of Bethlehem, earlier in the day.

A Palestinian student (C) is fleeing as Israeli forces try to detain him in the town of Tuqu’, located 12 kilometers southeast of Bethlehem, occupied West Bank, on April 18, 2019. (Photo by Shehab news agency)

Israeli forces used live rounds, rubber-coated bullets as well as tear gas bombs to disperse the protesting Palestinian students.

Israeli forces detained one of the students, and opened fire at him from point-blank range as he attempted to flee, critically injuring him in the thigh, the sources noted.

Israeli forces then prevented Tuqu’ residents from helping the student, and did not allow Palestinian paramedics to reach him to provide first aid.

A Palestinian student lies on the ground after being shot and critically injured by Israeli forces in the town of Tuqu’, located 12 kilometers southeast of Bethlehem, occupied West Bank, on April 18, 2019. (Photo by Shehab news agency)

The occupied Palestinian territories have witnessed new tensions ever since US President Donald Trump announced his decision on December 6, 2017 to recognize Jerusalem al-Quds as Israel’s capital and relocate the US embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to the occupied city.

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On December 21, 2017, the United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly voted in favor of a resolution that called on the US to withdraw its controversial recognition of Jerusalem al-Quds as Israeli “capital.”

In an attempt to prevent the passing of the resolution, Trump threatened reprisals against countries that backed the measure, which had earlier faced a US veto at the UN Security Council.