Palestinian teenager killed by Israeli forces near Bethlehem; medics blocked from providing assistance
The Palestinian Health Ministry confirmed the killing of Yusuf Bakr Zalou, a 17-year-old Palestinian teenager, who was shot by Israeli forces overnight, Wafa news agency reports. The killing took place in a village west of Bethlehem, the report said, adding that Israeli soldiers took away his body.
An official from the Palestinian Red Crescent told the news agency that his team was blocked by Israeli forces from approaching the scene, preventing medics from providing assistance.
In another attack earlier today, Israeli settlers assaulted a Palestinian in the village of Qira in the central occupied West Bank, local sources told Wafa. The settlers stormed the home of Mohammad Damin Abdu, the report said, physically assaulting him and setting his vehicle on fire.
Israel’s West Bank attack causes ‘largest displacement since 1967 war’: UN
The major Israeli military assault on northern areas of the occupied West Bank have caused the largest displacement of Palestinians in almost 60 years.
“It has resulted in systematic destruction, forced displacement, and demolition orders affecting Palestinian families and refugee camps,” the UN’s agency for Palestinian refugees UNRWA said in a post on X.
“The situation remains highly concerning.”
The Israeli army significantly intensified its incursions across the occupied territory two days after the Gaza ceasefire was reached on January 19. At least 40,000 people have been displaced so far.
Israeli settlers try to seize land, harass Palestinians in West Bank
Israelis from illegal settlements have begun ploughing Palestinian land with a tractor in the town of Sinjil, northeast of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, in an attempt to take it, the Wafa news agency reports.
The Palestinian landowners are unable to access the area because Israeli authorities have declared it a military zone. The agricultural land north of Sinjil is reportedly estimated at 800 hectares (2,000 acres).
In a separate incident, Israeli settlers stormed the town of Beit Furik, southeast of Nablus, and were confronted by local Palestinian residents. There were no reports of casualties.
Israeli settlers assault Palestinian shepherds in West Bank
Illegal settlers attacked Palestinian herders in the southern West Bank, continuing their spree of violent assaults.
The settlers, under the protection of the Israeli forces, beat the Palestinian herders near the al-Maniya village, east of Bethlehem city, and tried to steal their sheep. As the confrontation erupted, Israeli troops intervened in favour of the settlers and fired tear gas at the Palestinians, witnesses said.
In February, the Israeli army carried out 1,475 attacks while settlers carried out 230 assaults against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, according to a report by the official Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission.
The International Court of Justice declared Israel’s longstanding occupation of Palestinian territories illegal in July. It demanded the evacuation of all settlements in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.
