Israeli forces have killed two Palestinians, including a 16-year-old boy, during separate military raids in the Jenin governorate in the occupied West Bank, according to Palestinian officials. The incidents come amid escalating violence and continued Israeli military operations across Palestinian territories.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health confirmed late Saturday that Rayyan Abdel Qader, 16, was fatally shot when Israeli troops stormed the town of Qabatiya, south of Jenin. In a separate incident, Ahmad Zayoud, 22, was killed in the town of Silat al-Harithiya, west of Jenin.
Teenager Shot During Qabatiya Raid
According to Palestinian officials and eyewitness accounts cited by the Wafa news agency, Israeli forces opened fire directly at Abdel Qader during the raid. Surveillance footage reviewed by local media reportedly shows the teenager walking toward what residents said was his home before being shot at close range.
Emergency medical crews were reportedly prevented from reaching Abdel Qader for an extended period, during which he succumbed to his injuries. His body was later taken by Israeli forces, Palestinian authorities said.
Reporting from Bethlehem, Al Jazeera correspondent Nida Ibrahim said the footage raises serious concerns about the use of lethal force.
“We don’t often have surveillance footage that documents how these killings happen,” Ibrahim said, adding that Palestinians describe such incidents as extrajudicial killings.
She noted that preventing medical aid has become an increasingly common practice during West Bank raids.
Second Palestinian Killed in Separate Jenin-Area Operation
In the second incident, Palestinian health officials said Ahmad Zayoud was shot in the chest during an Israeli military operation in Silat al-Harithiya. A 15-year-old boy was also injured in the same raid, suffering wounds to his hand.
Zayoud’s killing comes roughly a week after another 16-year-old Palestinian was killed by Israeli forces in the same area, highlighting a pattern of deadly operations in the Jenin region.
Israeli Military Response
The Israeli military stated that both killings occurred after Palestinians allegedly threw objects at Israeli troops. According to the army, Abdel Qader was shot after hurling a block at soldiers, while Zayoud was accused of throwing an explosive device.
The military said no Israeli soldiers were injured in either incident. Palestinian officials and rights groups, however, have repeatedly disputed such claims in past cases.
Rising Death Toll in the Occupied West Bank
The latest killings bring the number of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank to 1,101 since October 7, 2023, according to Palestinian data. Among the dead are 229 children.
During the same period, Israeli authorities have arrested nearly 21,000 Palestinians, with approximately 9,300 currently held in Israeli prisons. More than one-third of detainees are reportedly being held without formal charges under administrative detention.
Human rights organisations have documented allegations of torture, abuse, and deaths in custody, with Israel confirming the identities of at least 86 Palestinian prisoners who have died while detained.
Settlements and International Criticism
On Sunday, the Israeli government approved the construction of 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, a move widely regarded as a violation of international law. Settlement expansion has accelerated amid the growing influence of far-right parties in Israel’s governing coalition.
Multiple international rights groups have described Israeli actions in Gaza as amounting to genocide. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over alleged war crimes.
Continued Violence in Gaza
Meanwhile, violence has also continued in Gaza despite an October ceasefire agreement. Medical sources at al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City reported that two Palestinians were killed on Sunday by Israeli fire in the Shujayea neighbourhood, near the so-called “yellow line” marking Israeli-controlled areas.
Israeli artillery shelling and helicopter gunfire were also reported near eastern Khan Younis, according to journalists on the ground.
Since the ceasefire brokered by the United States came into effect on October 10, Israel has killed at least 400 Palestinians, raising concerns that continued attacks could undermine diplomatic efforts to move to the agreement’s second phase.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan warned that Israel’s repeated violations pose “major risks” to the ceasefire’s future.
Separately, Gaza’s Ministry of Interior said four people were killed when a three-storey house collapsed in Gaza City’s Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood, bringing the total number of similar deaths since the ceasefire to 18.
Ongoing Humanitarian and Political Fallout
As violence persists across both the West Bank and Gaza, humanitarian conditions continue to deteriorate. Rights groups and international officials warn that without accountability and restraint, the situation risks further escalation, civilian casualties, and the collapse of fragile diplomatic efforts.
Leave a Reply