JERUSALEM (Washington Insider Magazine)– According to Palestinian and Israeli sources, Israeli forces opened fire on two Palestinians on Saturday during a military operation in the West Bank, killing both of them. This new incident made 2022 the bloodiest year of conflict in the occupied area since 2015.
According to ABC NEWS, the raid took place in the Jenin refugee camp in the northern West Bank, the site of several skirmishes between Israeli forces and local militants and civilians. The army frequently conducts operations in the camp, which is renowned as a stronghold of Palestinian insurgents.
According to Palestinian officials, troops encircled a residence Saturday morning after entering the camp. Videos that were shared on social media featured gunfire. According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, 11 people were injured, three of them severely.
The deceased were named Mahmoud al-Sous, 18, and Ahmad Daraghmeh, 16 by the Palestinian Health Ministry.
A 25-year-old member of the Islamic Jihad militant group who had previously been detained by Israel was alleged to have been apprehended, according to the Israeli military. The suspect, according to the report, was recently involved in shooting attacks on Israeli forces.
According to the report, troops started shooting during the operation as several Palestinians started firing and throwing explosives. No more information was provided in the announcement other than “Hits were identified.”
Israeli soldiers seemed to leave the area just before noon.
The killing took place a day after Israeli gunfire claimed the lives of two Palestinian youths, ages 14 and 17, in different incidents elsewhere in the occupied West Bank. In their confrontations with Palestinians, Israeli soldiers are alleged by rights organizations to have used excessive force without being held responsible. According to the Israeli military, the only life-threatening situations are when it opens fire.
Since a slew of fatal strikes in Israel last spring, Israel has been conducting operations throughout the region, particularly in the northern West Bank. Local Palestinian attackers participated in several of the attacks.
Israel claims that it is compelled to intervene because the Palestinian security forces, who work in close coordination with the military to combat Islamic extremists, are unable or unwilling to enforce stricter laws. Particularly in the absence of any political process, the Palestinian security forces claim that the military operations have damaged their reputation and popular support. 2009 saw the conclusion of the final substantive round of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.
Israel claims that the majority of those killed were terrorists. However, the violence has also claimed the lives of some civilians and local teenagers who were resisting the raids. Hundreds have been detained, many of whom have been put in what is known as administrative detention, which permits Israel to imprison people without charge or trial. This year’s conflict has resulted in the deaths of over 100 Palestinians.
Young Palestinians’ growing disenchantment and rage at Israel’s and the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority’s close security cooperation in the hunt for extremists is another factor contributing to the bloodshed.
In the 130 settlements and other outposts that Israel built after capturing the West Bank in the 1967 Middle East conflict, 500,000 Jewish settlers currently coexist with around 3 million Palestinians. Along with east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, the Palestinians demand that region for their future state.
