Palestinian man killed by Israeli army fire in West Bank

A Palestinian man was killed Friday by Israeli army fire during clashes south of Nablus, in the occupied West Bank, authorities said, Anadolu reports.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said in a statement that Bahaa Abdel Rahman Rashid, 38, died after Israeli soldiers shot him in the head during clashes in the village of Odala.

The Palestinian Red Crescent said its crews responded to a man with a critical gunshot wound to the head and performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) at the scene before his death was confirmed.

Confrontations erupted after Friday prayers, with Israeli forces firing live rounds and tear gas at Palestinians, witnesses told Anadolu. Further details were not immediately available.

Northern West Bank districts have seen wide Israeli military raids over the past week under an operation targeting Tubas, Aqaba, Tammun, al-Far’a, and Tayasir.

Palestinian observers say the operation aims to tighten Israeli control over the northern West Bank, with illegal settlers playing a complementary role in expanding settlement activity and restricting Palestinian movement.

At least 1,088 Palestinians have been killed and 10,700 others injured in attacks by the army and illegal Israeli settlers in the occupied territory since October 2023. Over 20,500 people have also been arrested.

In a landmark opinion in July last year, the International Court of Justice declared Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory illegal and called for the evacuation of all settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

READ: 4 Palestinians injured by Israeli army, illegal settlers in occupied West Bank