By Qais Abu Samra
BETHLEHEM, Palestine (AA): A Palestinian was killed by Israeli forces on Monday in the occupied West Bank, authorities said.
The Palestinian Health Ministry said in a statement that the Palestinian was shot dead with live bullets in the Dheisheh refugee camp in Bethlehem.
Eyewitnesses told Anadolu Agency that Israeli forces stormed the refugee camp, which led to clashes with dozens of Palestinians, during which live and metal bullets and gas canisters were used.
The Palestinian Health Ministry said the soldiers shot Omar Yousef Manna’ Fararja, 22, with live rounds in the chest and killed him.
The soldiers also shot six Palestinians with live fire before Palestinian medics rushed them to Bethlehem hospitals.
The soldiers also stormed and ransacked many homes and abducted three Palestinians, Omar’s brother, Yazan Fararja, 24, in addition to Odai Essam Abu Nassar, 24, and his brother Mu’ath, 27.
A general strike has been declared in Bethlehem district.
The EU has expressed grave concern over the escalating violence in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, saying that “2022 is the bloodiest year since 2006.”
Separate areas of the West Bank have witnessed a noticeable escalation and an increase in the pace of Israeli forces’ operations since the beginning of 2022.
According to the Health Ministry’s statistics, the number of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces since the start of 2022 reached 212; 160 of whom from the West Bank and 52 others from the besieged Gaza Strip.
*Ikram Imane Kouachi contributed to this report.
Additional report by imemc.org
[Photo: Israeli forces killed Omar Yousef Manna’ Fararja, 22, in Bethlehem on 5 December. Photo by imemc.org]
