Israeli forces kill four Palestinians in West Bank aerial and ground raids
Israeli forces have killed four Palestinians in the occupied West Bank in a drone strike near Jenin and a raid near Tubas, according to the Palestinian health ministry.
Troops stormed the town of Qabatiya, south of Jenin, at dawn on Tuesday with military bulldozers, destroying the town's infrastructure.
During the incursion, a drone strike hit the adjacent Muthalath al-Shuhada village, killing two Palestinians.
The official Palestinian news agency Wafa identified them as Mohammad Hassan Asous, 42, and Shawqi Fayyad Asous, 38.
The Israeli military confirmed carrying out an air strike on Qabatiya, claiming it targeted a "group of gunmen" without providing evidence.
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Also during the raid on Qabaitya, troops were filmed encircling a house and heavily firing at it.
Special forces reportedly forced residents in nearby houses to leave their homes and eyewitnesses said a young man was detained and used as a human shield, according to local reports.
Israeli forces also raided parts of Tulkarm, Tubas and the Silwan neighbourhood in occupied East Jerusalem on Tuesday.
In Tubas, two Palestinians were killed by Israeli gunfire in the town of Tammun, one of them identified as Hani Ali Bani Awda.
The identity of the other person was unknown. Local media said his body appeared to be carried by a military bulldozer as Israeli forces withdrew from the town.
Military bulldozers were also seen destroying streets and infrastructure in the al-Far'a refugee camp and Tulkarem.
In East Jerusalem’s Silwan, Israeli forces destroyed three residential buildings and detained a Palestinian man, Khaled al-Zeer, after raiding his home.
Israeli authorities have since released al-Zeer after he was investigated for several hours on the grounds of incitement for documenting Israeli threats of demolishing the al-Bustan neighborhood.
Israeli violence in the West Bank has soared since 7 October of last year, with over 754 Palestinians killed by Israeli troops and settlers, according to the health ministry.
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