Palestinian teenager shot dead by Israeli army, say medics
A Palestinian teenager has been shot dead by Israeli troops near Jenin in the occupied West Bank, according to medical sources.
The Palestinian health ministry said 17-year old Uday Salah was "killed by a bullet to the head fired by the Israeli occupation soldiers in Kafr Dan, Jenin governorate."
The Israeli army said it had been conducting raids in the area in an attempt to find suspects involved in the death of Major Bar Falah, who was killed at Jalameh checkpoint, north of Jenin on Wednesday.
The Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, the armed wing of the Fatah movement, claimed responsibility for the Israeli officer's death.
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Two Palestinians, Ahmed Abed and Abdul Rahman Abed, were also killed during fighting.
Wafa, the Palestinian news agency, said the Israelis raided the family homes of both Ahmed and Abdul Rahman Abed, and arrested "Amer Taha Abed, who is the cousin of the martyr Ahmed Abed."
The army also said it entered Kafr Dan to map out the houses of Ahmed Abdul Rahman ahead of their demolition.
Human rights activists say Israel's policy of demolishing the homes of suspected attackers amounts to collective punishment.
Following the killing of Falah, Israel announced it would be completely closing the Jalameh and Salem checkpoints near Jenin until further notice.
Residents of Kafr Dan will also be banned from entering Israel, even if they have work permits.
'Another level'
Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid has promised further escalation in the wake of Falah's death, which he blamed on the Fatah-controlled Palestinian Authority. He also said Ahmed Abed had been a PA intelligence officer, a claim supported by his uncle, speaking to Middle East Eye.
“This escalates things to another level,” Lapid declared.
“We will not hesitate to act in any place that the Palestinian Authority does not maintain order. The [Israeli army] and [Israel Securities Authority] are prepared for every scenario in order to prevent terrorism from rearing its head. They are prepared on all fronts, together with the Israel police on the seamline. Israel will forcefully target whoever tries to harm it.”
Tensions in the occupied Palestinian territories come as Israeli forces intensify near-daily raid-and-arrest operations in various parts of the West Bank, which often lead to the wounding or killing of Palestinians.
More than 150 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces this year across the Gaza Strip, the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.
At least 100 people have been killed in the West Bank alone, making it the deadliest year in the Palestinian territory since 2015.
In recent months, armed Palestinian resistance has been on the rise, especially in the northern West Bank cities of Nablus and Jenin.
Last week, Israeli army chief Aviv Kochavi said "around 1,500 wanted people were arrested and hundreds of attacks prevented" as a result of the raids on the West Bank.
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