Israeli army kills five in West Bank

Ramallah – Israeli forces killed five people in separate incidents across the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian health ministry said Monday as Israeli troops carried out a series of raids.

Violence has flared in the West Bank since the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas militants triggered war in Gaza.

In the northern city of Jenin, an AFP photographer on Monday saw residents navigating a street bulldozed by Israeli forces in their latest raid.

Thaer Naim Hamo, a 21-year-old resident of Al-Yamun, near Jenin, was killed according to the Palestinian health ministry.

Mourners, including gunmen, gathered later Monday for his funeral in Al-Yamun.

The health ministry in Ramallah, seat of the Palestinian Authority, said the latest of five killings happened in central Silwad.

A member of the town council said 19-year-old Abdul Rahman Hamed was killed during an Israeli military operation, while the health ministry reported others were wounded.

Further south in Dura, the Israeli military said its forced carried out “counter-terror activity”.

“Rocks were hurled at the forces, who responded with fire,” it said.

The health ministry said 18-year-old Muhannad Ismail al-Fasfus was shot dead in Dura.

Residents confirmed clashes took place between young men and soldiers, who carried out arrests, while two other Palestinians were wounded.

Israel has occupied the West Bank since the 1967 Arab-Israeli war and its troops increasingly make incursions into Palestinian communities.

In a separate incident in the southern town of Teqoa, the health ministry said a 16-year-old, Rani Yasser Khalaf al-Shaer, was killed.

Israel’s military said troops shot at a person who “attempted to carry out a stabbing attack” against soldiers at Teqoa, none of whom were hurt.

More than 370 people have been killed by Israeli troops and settlers in the West Bank since October 7, according to the Palestinian health ministry.

Excluding annexed east Jerusalem, the territory is home to around 490,000 Israelis who live in settlements which breach international law.

The West Bank is home to more than three million Palestinians.