RAMALLAH/JERUSALEM, Dec 21 (NNN-WAFA) – Two Palestinians were murdered by the Zionist Israeli forces, in separate incidents in the northern West Bank yesterday, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said.
According to the ministry in Ramallah, a 16-year-old, Rayan Mohammed Abdel Qader Abu Mualla, was murdered in Qabatiya. His body is being withheld by the Barbaric Israeli forces, the statement added. Earlier, a 22-year-old man, Ahmed Said Zayoud, was shot dead in Silat al-Harithiya, north-west of Jenin.
The brutal Israel Defence Forces (IDF), alleged, both incidents involved attacks on troops. In Qabatiya, a Palestinian hurled a brick at soldiers from the Paratroopers Brigade’s reconnaissance unit during a raid. The troops returned fire, killing “the attacker,” the IDF said.
Minutes later, in Silat al-Harithiya, another Palestinian, allegedly, threw an explosive device at the soldiers, who also responded with fire, the IDF said. However, no Israeli soldiers were injured in either incident.
The marauding Israeli forces frequently conduct operations in the West Bank, which Israel describes as “counter-terrorism” measures, targeting individuals linked to “Palestinian armed groups.”
According to a UN report in mid-Dec, at least 232 Palestinians, including 52 children, had been murdered by Israeli forces or settlers, in the West Bank and East Jerusalem this year.
Separately, the trigger-happy IDF said, its troops killed two more Palestinians in the northern Gaza Strip yesterday, after they crossed the Yellow Line, the buffer area established under the ceasefire agreement, that took effect on Oct 10, and “posed an immediate threat.” The air force carried out the strike, following the identification of the individuals, the military said.
Over the past 24 hours, Palestinian authorities reported 13 fatalities, including seven previously unrecorded and six newly confirmed deaths, along with 20 injuries.
Since Oct 11, 401 Palestinians have been murdered, 1,108 injured, and 641 bodies recovered.
The authorities added that, since Oct 7, 2023, 70,925 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been murdered and 171,185 injured, noting that, many victims remain trapped under the rubble, with emergency and rescue teams unable to reach them.– NNN-WAFA