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Israeli forces shoot dead Palestinian man near Nablus

Death of Saed al-Koni is the second killing of a Palestinian by Israeli forces in the area in two days
The Israeli army said its soldiers had "spotted armed suspects driving in a vehicle and motorcycle adjacent to the city of Nablus" (Reuters)

Israeli forces shot dead a Palestinian man near Nablus, in the occupied West Bank, on Sunday, the second such killing in two days. 

Palestinian security sources told the Wafa news agency that Saed al-Koni, who was in his early 20s, was shot by undercover Israeli forces during a raid on the Al-Taawon neighbourhood of the city.

It said three other Palestinians were injured during the incident and later rushed to hospital. 

In a statement, the Israeli army said: "Overnight, during IDF [Israeli army] routine activity, IDF soldiers spotted armed suspects driving in a vehicle and motorcycle adjacent to the city of Nablus.

"IDF soldiers responded by firing towards the armed suspects. Hits were identified."

The Den of Lions, an umbrella grouping of Palestinian militants from different factions, said Koni was a "hero of the resistance" who had died during "clashes with occupation forces".

'Not posing any danger'

Koni's killing is the second death of a Palestinian at the hands of Israeli forces in the Nablus area in the past two days.

Nablus is home to one of the largest refugee camps on the West Bank. Most shops were closed on Sunday after factions in the area called for a general strike. 

Israeli forces fatally shoot Palestinian driver in northern West Bank
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On Saturday, Israeli troops killed 36-year-old Palestinian driver Muhammad Ali Hussein Awad.

Israel claimed it killed Awad in response to an "attempted ramming attack", but Palestinian officials described Awad as "defenceless" and "not posing any danger".

"The Israeli police deliberately shot Awad, with the aim of killing him, after his vehicle collided with a police vehicle in a traffic accident," the Palestinian foreign ministry said. 

Since March, Israel has launched hundreds of raids in the northern West Bank, including in Nablus and nearby Jenin, in pursuit of individuals it accuses of involvement in deadly attacks targeting Israelis. 

The raids have sparked clashes that have killed scores of Palestinians, including both civilians and fighters. 

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