Four Palestinian teens killed by Israeli forces in 24 hours
Israeli troops killed two Palestinians in Jenin on Saturday, hours after two teenagers were fatally shot in separate incidents in the occupied West Bank.
Mahmoud Assos, 18, and Ahmed Daragma, 16, were killed by Israeli gunfire during a large army raid in Jenin refugee camp on Saturday morning, according to the Palestinian health ministry.
Armoured vehicles, bulldozers, military helicopters and combat drones were reportedly deployed in the raid.
Palestinian fighters responded with live fire, while unarmed residents also confronted Israeli soldiers with rocks.
Assos was shot in the neck and Daragma was hit in the head, according to the Palestinian health ministry.
New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch
Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters
At least 11 more Palestinians were wounded, three of whom remain in critical condition.
The Israeli army said it was carrying out an arrest operation when "explosive devices, Molotov cocktails and shots" were fired at soldiers who fired back and "hits were identified".
A Palestinian man was arrested, the army added. Palestinian sources identified him as Saleh Abu Zeneh.
Local media reported that Palestinian journalists and medics were denied access during the raid. The Palestinian news agency Wafa saidIsraeli troops shot in the direction of a group of journalists who were taking cover in the area.
Two more minors were killed by Israeli forces on Friday evening.
Adel Ibrahim Daoud, 14, was shot in the head near Israel's separation barrier in Qalqilya while Mahdi Ladadweh, 17, was shot in the chest by soldiers northwest of Ramallah.
The Israeli army said it fired at someone after he allegedly threw Molotov cocktails at them, in response to Daoud's death, according to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz.
More than 50 Palestinians were wounded by Israeli forces on Friday in various crackdowns on anti-occupation demonstrations across the West Bank, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent.
'Will lead to an explosion'
In recent months, Palestinians in the West Bank have faced increasing violence by Israeli forces not seen in years.
Near-daily raid-and-arrest operations have increased across the occupied Palestinian territory, which the Israeli army says are aimed at stamping out a resurgence of Palestinian armed resistance, particularly in the northern cities of Nablus and Jenin.
'The continuation of this policy will lead to an explosion of the situation and more tensions and instability'
- PA presidency spokesman
More than 160 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire this year, including 50 in the Gaza Strip and at least 110 in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The death toll rate in the West Bank is the highest recorded in a single year since 2015.
At least two Israeli soldiers have been killed by Palestinian fire since May.
Palestinian movement Hamas said the Jenin raid demonstrated the Israeli military's weakness against "the resistance in the West Bank".
"So it resorts to mobilising military machines and helicopters to arrest one person," Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, said in a statement.
Palestinian Authority presidency spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh condemned Israel on Friday for what he called "field executions".
"The continuation of this policy will lead to an explosion of the situation and more tensions and instability," Abu Rudeineh warned in a statement.
Middle East Eye delivers independent and unrivalled coverage and analysis of the Middle East, North Africa and beyond. To learn more about republishing this content and the associated fees, please fill out this form. More about MEE can be found here.
