Palestinians report Israeli army killed man in occupied West Bank

The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Ramallah confirmed that Israeli troops fatally shot a man in the northern West Bank on Friday. According to the ministry, 38-year-old Bahaa Abdel-Rahman Rashid was killed by live ammunition in the town of Odala, located south of Nablus.

Earlier, the Palestinian Red Crescent reported that its medical teams responded to a man suffering a severe head injury amid clashes in Odala following Friday prayers. Emergency resuscitation efforts were underway at the time.

A local witness, Muhammad al-Kharouf, told AFP that Israeli soldiers had been patrolling the area and deployed tear gas at men leaving the mosque for prayers. Rashid was reportedly shot during the confrontations that ensued, according to al-Kharouf, who was inside the mosque at the time.

The Israeli military stated it was investigating the incident. It noted that a two-week counter-terrorism operation in the northern West Bank had recently concluded, during which six militants were killed and dozens were interrogated. Rashid was not listed among those six casualties.

Following the killing, dozens of men, including Rashids father, gathered at Rafidia Hospital in Nablus to pay their respects.

Violence in the West Bank has intensified since Hamas launched attacks on Israel in October 2023, which led to the Gaza conflict. Despite a fragile truce between Israel and Hamas established that month, hostilities have persisted. According to Palestinian health ministry data compiled by AFP, Israeli forces and settlers have killed over 1,000 Palestinians, including both militants and civilians, in the West Bank since the Gaza war began. Meanwhile, Israeli authorities report that at least 44 Israelis, including soldiers and civilians, have died in attacks or military operations during the same period.

Author: Harper Simmons