Israel’s attacks in West Bank ‘adding to the growing burden of trauma’
The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed its concerns over the escalating health crisis in the occupied Palestinian territory, including the West Bank, where attacks on health infrastructure and increased restrictions on movement are obstructing access to health care”.
At least 547 Palestinians have been killed in a spike in violence in West Bank since October 7.
“In addition, over 5,200 people, 800 of them children, have been injured, adding to the growing burden of trauma and emergency care at already strained health facilities.” said the WHO in a statement.
“As of 28 May, WHO has documented 480 attacks on health care in the West Bank since 7 October 2023, resulting in 16 deaths and 95 injuries. The attacks affected 54 health facilities, 20 mobile clinics and 319 ambulances.
“The closure of checkpoints, arbitrary obstructions, and detentions of health workers, rising insecurity, as well as the siege and closure of entire towns and communities has made movement within the West Bank increasingly restricted, impeding access to health facilities. Extensive infrastructure and housing damage, particularly in the northern West Bank, have compounded the situation by obstructing access for ambulances and first-aid responders.”
Clashes, detentions reported as Israeli army raids occupied West Bank communities
The Israeli military has stormed the town of Burqa, northwest of Nablus in the West Bank, igniting clashes with Palestinian armed groups in the area.
The Palestinian news agency, Wafa, also reported that two Palestinians were detained by Israeli forces following separate raids targeting the Jalazone refugee camp and the al-Masayef neighbourhood in the city of Ramallah.
Clashes also erupted during the two raids in Ramallah, but there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage to property.
Israeli settlers accused of burning agricultural lands in occupied West Bank
Agricultural lands planted with olives and almonds have been burned following an attack by illegal Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank, according to the Palestinian news agency, Wafa.
The report said that an area equivalent to seven acres (about 2.8 hectares) of land was destroyed in the area of Husan, a town located west of Bethlehem, following the attack.
Israeli settlers from illegal settlements have ramped up attacks on Palestinian properties, including centuries-old olive plantations, since the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, some resulting in deaths.
Israeli forces shoot, injure two during raids in occupied West Bank
Two Palestinians have been injured, one critically, during a dawn raid carried out by Israeli forces in the Jalazone refugee camp in the occupied West Bank, according to the Palestinian news agency, Wafa.
Wafa quoted the Palestinian Red Crescent Society as saying that one of those injured was hit with bullets in the head and his condition was described as critical. The other was hit with bullet fragments in the abdomen and leg. Both were taken to hospital.
Two other Palestinians were also detained in raids in Jalazone and the al-Masayef neighbourhood of Ramallah. Among those arrested was a man originally from the Gaza Strip, Wafa reports.
More on the latest Israeli raids in the occupied West Bank
Aside from the city of Ramallah and the Jalazone refugee camp, Israeli forces also targeted the town of Kfardan, west of Jenin, in the series of raids overnight in the occupied West Bank.
According to our colleagues from Al Jazeera Arabic, Israeli forces raided the house of a man identified as Ahmed al-Rashad, resulting in the clashes with Palestinian residents in the area.
Confrontations also broke out between Palestinian youths and the Israeli forces in the town of Beit Ummar, north of Hebron. The occupation forces raided the centre of the town, confiscated a number of vehicles, and searched private properties.
Israeli forces withdraw from Beita after raiding houses
Israeli forces have withdrawn from the town of Beita, south of Nablus in the occupied West Bank, several hours after storming it. The forces raided the town at dawn, targeting several houses and destroying contents inside them. They used tear gas against Palestinian youth.
Fighting was also reported after Israeli forces stormed the town of Kafr Dan where military vehicles conducted patrols in its streets before storming homes inside the town.
Raids were also reported in Jenin, Qalqilya and Hebron. Two Palestinians were injured in Jalazone refugee camp north of Ramallah, one of them in a critical condition due to a head injury. Israeli forces arrested one person.
Israeli occupation forces storm the town of Beita in the occupied West Bank. pic.twitter.com/MnPrPzlPtg
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) June 15, 2024
