Six Palestinians were killed in clashes with Israeli troops late Wednesday and early Thursday in the West Bank, according to Palestinian reports.
In Jenin, two Palestinians were killed and one was critically injured in clashes with the IDF on Thursday morning, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
According to unconfirmed reports, one of the Palestinians killed in Jenin was the brother of Ayman Kamaji, one of the prisoners who escaped Gilboa Prison last year and was captured after a nationwide manhunt.
Another three Palestinians were killed in Israeli security operations late Wednesday night in Silwad near Ramallah and outside Bethlehem.
A man injured in clashes near Nablus on Wednesday later died of his wounds at a hospital in the northern city of the West Bank, the Palestinian Authority’s Ministry of Health said on Thursday, bringing the death toll to six in the last 24 hours.
Palestinian media identified the man as Fawaz Hamayel, who was shot dead by Israeli soldiers during clashes in the town of Beita, south of Nablus.
He was taken to a hospital in Nablus, where he later died of his wounds.
Fifteen Palestinians have been shot and killed in clashes with the IDF in the last two weeks alone.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas announced on Thursday that he would convene an emergency leadership meeting to discuss the latest escalation. It takes place on Sunday at 9 p.m.
The incidents took place during an extensive arrest operation carried out in several towns and villages in the West Bank since Wednesday morning, which has sparked protests and exchanges of live fire in several areas.
A total of 18 suspects have been arrested in the West Bank in the past few days, the IDF reports.
Near Bethlehem, troops looted the home of Al-Khader’s mayor, Yasser Sbaih, and arrested his son on suspicion of involvement in terrorist activity.
Released convicts suspected of terrorist activity were also arrested in the Jerusalem area and Ramallah during the last 24 hours.
Palestinian Ministry of Health: Two killed by IDF gunfire in the area of Kfar Dan / Jenin, one of the dead is the brother of Aiham Kamaji, one of the prisoners who escaped from Gilboa prison. pic.twitter.com/x6uCOzDgwE
– Jack khoury (@KhJacki) April 14, 2022
Other operations aimed at arresting and confiscating illegal weapons took place in Hebron and in the cities of Balata and Beit Ummar, the IDF said in a statement.
Separately, an Israeli who entered the village of Husan in the Bethlehem government with his vehicle was surrounded by Palestinian insurgents who set his car on fire, according to a Maariv report. He managed to escape unharmed, the report reads.
The municipalities of Ramallah and Bethlehem announced a general strike Thursday morning in response to the recent Palestinian deaths and called on the public to “increase their opposition to Israel.”
Meanwhile, Hamas conducted overnight rocket fire tests, with terrorist group spokesman Hazen Qasem threatening Israel and urging Palestinians in the West Bank to continue their armed resistance.
“The great revolution taking place in the West Bank and the continuing clashes with the occupying forces in all cities in the West Bank are an expression of an intifada that will not stop,” he said. “The Intifada will not be stopped through arrests or murders,” he added.
Fatah in the West Bank also urged the Palestinian public to take to sensitive areas on Thursday and “confront IDF forces and settlers across the West Bank,” according to Army Radio.
Arrest operations in the West Bank have become a frequent occurrence since last week’s shooting attack in Tel Aviv, which killed three Israelis and was the latest in a series of deadly attacks in Israel.
A raid by Israeli forces into the West Bank city of Nablus resulted in the death of one person, 17 of whom were wounded.
The Israeli military reportedly stormed the cities of Beita, al-Lubban al-Sharqiya and Urif. pic.twitter.com/9jxoRofxGA
– RT (@RT_com) April 14, 2022
On Wednesday, Hamas deputy chief of staff Saleh al-Arouri called for an escalation after Israeli counter-terrorism troops arrested Palestinian suspects in the West Bank city of Silwad – referred to as “ticking bombs” by security officials – suspected of planning an impending attack in Israel.
In separate incidents, six Palestinians were reportedly wounded during clashes with the Israeli military in the village of Beita near Nablus. Forces also entered the Palestinian cities of Jenin, Tulkarm, Nablus and the villages of Urif, Kabatia and Jaba ‘, the military said.
The Palestinian Red Crescent Service said 31 Palestinians were wounded in clashes with Israeli forces near the site of Joseph’s tomb in Nablus on Wednesday morning. The Palestinian Authority’s Ministry of Health later said one of them died.
