Palestinian teen shot dead at close range by Israeli forces in West Bank: Witnesses
The teenager, identified as Mahmoud Abu Saan, was killed at the Nour Shams refugee camp located east of Tulkarm, according to the official Palestinian news agency, Wafa. Eyewitnesses reported that Abu Saan was shot at close range in the head and was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
In response to the Israeli raid, a local faction of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group engaged in gunfire with Israeli forces and detonated several explosive devices.
Human rights organizations have criticized Israeli night raids as a method employed to instill fear among Palestinians and convey the message that even their safe spaces are not off-limits to Israeli soldiers. These raids, which can last for hours, often result in casualties.
According to testimonies collected by rights organizations, night raids have long-lasting psychological effects on Palestinian families, particularly children, who suffer from anxiety, sleep disorders, and difficulties in school as a result.
This year alone, Israeli fire has claimed the lives of at least 202 Palestinians, including 34 children, averaging nearly one fatality per day. The casualties include 165 individuals in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, making 2023 one of the deadliest years in the occupied Palestinian territories. Additionally, 36 people lost their lives in the Gaza Strip.
Source: Agencies
