JERUSALEM: Tensions continue to rise in the West Bank as Israeli troops shot and killed a Palestinian man on Monday, further exacerbating the ongoing wave of violence in the occupied territory.
The incident occurred in Deir Nidham, a town located west of Ramallah, when Israeli soldiers stopped a motorist for questioning. According to the Israeli military, the man exited his vehicle, threw a grenade, and fired shots towards the soldiers, prompting them to respond with gunfire.
The Palestinian Health Ministry confirmed the death of a 33-year-old man but provided no additional details. This incident adds to the recent surge in violence between Israel and the Palestinians. Last week, Israel concluded a fierce two-day offensive, utilizing air power and deploying hundreds of troops in a crackdown against militants.
However, the operation in the Jenin refugee camp was followed by further bloodshed, including the shooting of an Israeli soldier by a Palestinian assailant. In subsequent events, two militants were killed during an Israeli military raid, and another Palestinian was killed during a demonstration in the central West Bank.
Escalating Violence in West Bank
Since the spring of 2022, Israel has been conducting increased raids into Palestinian areas in response to a series of attacks by Palestinians against Israelis. The violence has escalated this year, resulting in a rising death toll on both sides. Since the beginning of the year, over 150 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire, while at least 26 individuals have died in Palestinian attacks against Israelis.
While Israel asserts that most of those killed have been militants, it is noteworthy that stone-throwing youths participating in protests and others uninvolved in the confrontations have also lost their lives. The West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem were captured by Israel during the 1967 Middle East war, territories that the Palestinians envision as part of their future independent state.
