US embassy ‘heartbroken’ over killing of USAID employee
The US Embassy in Jerusalem has sent its “deepest condolences” to the family of Jacob Toukhy, a USAID staff member killed by an off-duty Israeli police officer in the city of Jaffa on Friday night.
Toukhy, was riding his motorcycle wearing his volunteer paramedic uniform when he was allegedly assaulted and shot by the off-duty police officer, the Times of Israel reported.
The officer has now been arrested.
Toukhy, a Palestinian citizen of Israel, worked for the USAID/West Bank and Gaza Mission.
We are heartbroken to report that one of our own, Jacob Toukhy, was tragically killed last night in Jaffa. To Jacob’s family, we and @USAIDWBG send our deepest condolences; we mourn alongside you. Jacob was a valued member of our embassy community for over two decades.
— U.S. Embassy Jerusalem (@usembassyjlm) April 13, 2024
Israeli forces arrest eight Palestinians in raids across West Bank
Israeli forces have arrested eight people in early morning raids across the occupied West Bank, according to the Wafa news agency. Six people were arrested in raids near the city of Tulkarem, while two were arrested from Kafr Nima, west of the city of Ramallah, Wafa reported. One of the men arrested in Kafr Ni’ma was beaten by Israeli soldiers, it added.
Israeli raids were also reported in the city of Qalqilya, the town of Yatma, south of the city of Nablus and in the town of Beit Ummar, north of the city of Hebron, according to local media.
Clashes were reported in Beit Ummar, with Israeli forces firing live bullets, sound bombs and tear gas.
Undercover Israeli forces shoot Palestinian man dead in occupied West Bank
A Palestinian man has been shot dead and two others have been wounded by Israeli forces during a raid into the city of Nablus, in the northern occupied West Bank. The Palestinian Authority’s Health Ministry said the man died after being shot in the chest, while another critically injured man was hit in the abdomen and chest. The third man was wounded in the foot.
The violence came after undercover Israeli special forces infiltrated al-Mraij neighbourhood of Nablus and raided a building belonging to the Joud Allah family.
Pro-Palestine activists protest against Boeing, Elbit in Australia
Pro-Palestinian activists held protests across Melbourne, including outside a Boeing factory and on the steps of state parliament, on Monday. Demonstrators outside the Victorian Parliament in the centre of Melbourne protested against the state government’s contract with Elbit systems.
“It was Elbit drones that killed Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom and her colleagues,” said Greens Party MP Samantha Ratnam. “And it is Elbit weapons that are continuing to kill thousands of innocent Palestinians,” she added.
A separate protest was held outside a Boeing factory near Melbourne’s port.
According to a list of companies published by the American Friends Service Committee, Boeing supplies Israel with fighter jets, attack helicopters and bombs, among other weapons.
The Melbourne Activist Legal Centre said several people were arrested at the Boeing protest and that police used “disproportionate and excessive force”.
Victorian Greens representative Samantha Ratnam spoke at the protest against the government’s contract with Elbit
