RAMALLAH, Palestine (AA, Imemc): A Palestinian was shot dead by Israeli forces during a military raid Thursday in the Qalandia refugee camp, north of East Jerusalem, according to the Health Ministry. He is the fourth Palestinian to be killed by Israeli soldiers in 24 hours.

A ministry statement said Samir Awni Harbi Aslan, 41, died after he was shot in the chest by Israeli forces.

The Health Ministry added that, after shooting and seriously wounding Samir, the soldiers prevented the locals and Palestinian medics from reaching him to administer first aid and move him to a hospital.Also on Wednesday, the Palestinian Health Ministry confirmed that a seriously injured young man, Ahmad Amer Abu Jneid, 21, who Israeli soldiers shot and seriously injured earlier in Balata refugee camp, east of the northern West Bank city of Nablus, has succumbed to his wounds.

According to eyewitnesses, Israeli forces raided the camp and searched a number of houses, triggering clashes with angry residents.

The soldiers shot Samir as he was trying to defend his son, whom the soldiers repeatedly assaulted while trying to abduct him.

The Qalandia Media Center said the soldiers also invaded and ransacked many homes and abducted fifteen Palestinians, including children and five former political prisoners.

There was no comment from the Israeli military on the report.

On Wednesday, Israeli soldiers killed Sanad Mohammad Othman Samarma, 19, after he reportedly stabbed and moderately injured an Israeli settler near Havat Yehuda illegal settlement built on stolen Palestinian lands in Hebron, in the southern part of the occupied West Bank.

Also on Wednesday, the Palestinian Health Ministry confirmed that a seriously injured Ahmad Amer Abu Jneid, 21, who Israeli soldiers shot  in the head and seriously injured earlier in Balata refugee camp, east of the northern West Bank city of Nablus, has succumbed to his wounds.

Tension has been running high across the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem amid repeated Israeli raids to detain what they call “wanted Palestinians” or to demolish Palestinian homes. The raids often spark clashes with Palestinians, also causing fatalities.

The number of Palestinians whom Israeli soldiers killed in the first twelve days of this year, 2023, is now seven.

Besides Samir, Sanad, and Ahmad, the soldiers killed Fu’ad Mohammad ‘Abed, 17, from Kafr Dan near Jenin, and Mohammad Samer Houshiyya, 22, from Al-Yamoun near Jenin, Amer Abu Zeitoun, 16, from Nablus, and Adam Essam Ayyad, 15, from Bethlehem.

* Writing by Mahmoud Barakat

[Photo:  Samir Awni Harbi Aslan, 41, from Qalandia refugee camp, killed by Israeli forces on 12 January 2023. Photo by imemc.org]