Zionist Forces Shoot, Kill Palestinian during Arrest Raid
Locals told Ma’an that Israeli forces stormed the Palestinian town at dawn, ransacking homes and detaining several residents.
Clashes erupted throughout the streets of Qatanna between young locals and Israeli soldiers carrying out the raid. Locals said that the forces fired live ammunition, rubber-coated steel bullets, and tear gas at the group.
During the clashes, Yahya Yusri Taha was shot in the head and left on the ground bleeding for more than an hour-and-a-half while Israeli soldiers denied Palestinian ambulances access to the young man to administer medical treatment, locals said.
The raid comes as part of an ongoing arrest campaign carried out by Israeli military forces throughout the occupied Palestinian territory.
Qatanna residents said that hundreds of Israeli soldiers who entered the town carried out inspections house-to-house, forcibly gathering families in one room of each home while searches were underway.
In some cases, family members -- including children, women and elderly members -- were forced to wait outside of their houses, locals added.
Search and arrest raids -- this year’s weekly average numbering over 80 according to UN documentation -- have increased since the beginning of last month.
Human Rights Watch has criticized Israel for large-scale violations carried out during arrest campaigns. Violations included arbitrary arrest, excessive use of force against residents who did not pose sufficient threat for the lethal use of force, and damage to property and homes.
At least 97 Palestinians have been killed since the start of last month, over 30 of whom died after being shot during clashes with Israeli forces.
Source: Ma’an News Agency
