RAMALLAH: In the occupied West Bank, a Palestinian was shot dead during Israeli soldiers’ raid in the town of Huwara. The Palestinian health ministry identified the victim as 19-year-old Labib Mohammad Labib Dmidi, who was shot in the heart by settlers.
The Israeli army reported that a suspect had been shot by soldiers, and they were unable to confirm whether the Palestinian had been killed or injured.
Huwara, located in the northern West Bank, has witnessed multiple fatal shootings by Israeli forces against local residents and their property this year.
Mayor Moin Dmidi stated that the young Palestinian had sought refuge on the roof of his house, which was under attack by settlers when one of them fatally shot him.
According to another town resident, Abderrahman Dmidi, over 200 settlers gathered in Huwara overnight, shouting and dancing, with some of them concealing their faces. They began throwing stones at houses, prompting young people to defend their homes by throwing stones in return.
After midnight, dozens of Israeli civilians congregated in an area of Huwara and engaged in stone-throwing clashes with Palestinians. Soldiers intervened using “riot dispersal means to defuse the confrontation,” the army said, which ultimately led to live fire being used, resulting in a hit being identified.
The Palestinian Red Crescent treated 58 people at the scene who had suffered from tear gas inhalation.
The military acknowledged reports of “vandalism of the properties of Palestinian residents of the town by Israeli civilians.”
The Palestinian foreign ministry condemned the events in Huwara, describing them as a “heinous crime committed by a hateful and racist settler” and illustrating the “perpetuation of crimes and attacks by organized settler militias against our people.”
Surge in Israeli Army Raids in West Bank
The West Bank has experienced a surge in Israeli army raids and settler violence against Palestinians and their property. This year, the conflict has resulted in at least 247 Palestinian deaths and two foreigner deaths, including combatants and civilians on both sides, according to Israeli and Palestinian officials.
