Israeli forces killed a Palestinian youth on Tuesday, after an alleged stabbing attack near the illegal “Ateret” colony, north of Ramallah in the central West Bank.
The Palestinian Health Ministry announced that occupation forces shot and killed Mohammad Raslan Mahmoud Asmar (18 years old), from the town of Beit Rima, before confiscating his body.
WAFA correspondent quoted eyewitnesses who stated that the youth was shot and seriously wounded near the village of Umm Safa, and blocked ambulance crews from providing life-saving interventions, resulting in his death.
The Times of Israel reported that the youth was shot dead after allegedly carrying out a stabbing attack near the “Ateret” settlement, lightly wounding two Israeli soldiers who were transported to the Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer.
It added that occupation forces stopped the youth to investigate him when he allegedly stabbed two soldiers, causing mild injuries, before they shot him with live ammunition.
In a statement, Israeli army spokesman claimed that its forces were called to inspect a “suspect” near the “Ateret” colony. While investigating the youth, he brandished a knife and attempted to stab the soldiers before they fatally shot him at the scene.
In response, the army invaded nearby towns and erected numerous military roadblocks, increasing their security measures.
Immediately after the incident a large army force invaded the town of Beit Rima, northwest of Ramallah, and closed its entrances.
In the afternoon, Israeli forces abducted three brothers and the cousin of the slain youth in Beit Rima and Umm Safa.
WAFA correspondent reported that soldiers invaded the homes of the young man’s brothers Nader, Mahmoud, and Laith Raslan Al-Asmar, and his cousin Mustafa Ittihad Hajjaj, before abducting them.
He added that the army also threatened the family against holding a mourning ceremony for their son.
Later, occupation forces continued, since the morning, to close the Atara military roadblock, the entrance to the village of Umm Safa, and increased their security measures at the Ein Sinya military roadblock.
The army erected a flying military roadblock at the entrance to Silwad town and placed barriers between the village of Yabroud and the al-Jalazone refugee camp.
These measures, ostensibly used for “security” measures, obstruct citizens movement, imposing collective punishment against the civilian population.
Hours earlier, the occupation forces killed 17-year-old Mohannad Tariq Mohammad Al-Zughair, in Hebron city, and confiscated his body after he allegedly carried out a car-ramming attempt, which injured one soldier.
Since the beginning of the year, Israeli forces and colonizers have killed 253 Palestinian citizens in the occupied West Bank, including 51 children and 7 women.
Since the beginning of the year, occupation forces and illegal settlers have killed 83 Palestinians in Jenin, 45 in Nablus, 31 in Tubas, 25 in Hebron, 22 in Ramallah, 17 in Tulkarem, 10 in Jerusalem, 9 in Bethlehem, 7 in Qalqilia, 3 in Salfit, and 1 in Jericho, according to the Shireen Observatory.
In the Gaza Strip, the overall death toll since October 7, 2023 has increased to 70,112 including women and children, while at least 170,986 Palestinians have sustained various degrees of injuries as a result of Israel’s military onslaught.
