Four Palestinians martyrs killed in Jenin, Prompting West Bank General Strike
In New Crime of Excessive Use of Force, Israeli occupation Forces Killed Two Palestinian Civilians from Jenin Refugee Camp, Northern West Bank.
Israeli occupation says gunfire erupted after troops surrounded two Palestinians, who were wanted; Abbas spokesman says Israel is ‘tampering with security and stability’
There were no signs Wednesday that tensions were easing in the West Bank, as four Palestinians were killed in a raid by Israeli forces and dozens more were wounded.
The West Bank has seen a surge of violence in recent months as Israel has intensified.
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Aviv Kochavi said earlier this month that around “1,500 wanted persons” have been arrested.
At least 90 Palestinians martyr have been killed in nightly IDF raids in cities, towns, and villages across the West Bank, making this the deadliest year in the territory in six years.
Gunfire erupted on Wednesday morning as Israeli troops surrounded the home of Ra’ad Hazem, his brother Rahman Hazem kille Wednesday alongside fellow Muhammad al-Wana, both were inside the house at the time.
“While surrounding the residence, the Israeli occupation forces killed the two men.
The other two Palestinians martyrs were killed in the raid were named as Palestinian Authority security officer Ahmad Alawneh and presumed bystander Muhammad Abu Na’asa.
Palestinians across the West Bank held a general strike after the gunfight, shuttering services, shops, and schools in protest of the deaths. Fatah, the political movement of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, called for the strike as well as a “day of rage.”
Abbas spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeinah said after the clashes that Israel was “tampering with security and stability through pursuing a policy of escalation,” according to the official Palestinian news agency Wafa.
Hussein al-Sheikh, the secretary general of the Palestine Liberation Organization’s Executive Committee, slammed the IDF raid as “a major crime committed by the occupation in the city of Jenin.”
“The government of Israel bears responsibility for these crimes and their repercussions,” al-Sheikh said, and urged the international community “to assume its responsibilities to protect the Palestinian people.”
The Islamist Hamas in the Gaza Strip said after the raid that it would not ignore the killing of Palestinians by Israeli troops.
“The cowardly assassinations of the martyrs in Jenin will not go unnoticed, and will not bring the enemy alleged security,” Hamas said.
