Israeli forces executed seven Palestinian young men and injured at least twelve, including a child seriously, during a prolonged attack against the town of Qabatiya, south of Jenin in the northern West Bank.
Media sources said that on Thursday morning, a large army force stormed the town of Qabatiya and besieged a citizen’s home, before firing many live rounds and several shells at the home.
Sources added that the army executed three young men, after shooting them with live ammunition; the soldiers then stormed the rooftop where the men were killed, and proceeded to abuse their corpses.
The Arab 48 News website reported that Israeli forces killed seven Palestinian young men during the invasion, they were identified as;
1. Ahmad Maher Zakarna,
2. Mustafa Zakarna,
3. Shadi Zakarna,
4. Mohammad Khaled Abu al-Rob,
5. Omar Abu al-Rob,
6. Fadi Jawdat Hanaisha, and
7. Mohammad Kamil Abu Khamira.
Videos published on various media outlets show occupation soldiers kicking the bodies of the three slain men from the rooftop of the building where they were executed.
Later, the soldiers transported the three bodies with a bulldozer and proceeded to confiscate the bodies, taking them to an unknown location.
It is important to mention that the abuse of a corpse is in clear violation of International Humanitarian Law (IHL).
Occupation forces shot at least eight others with live rounds, and injured two others by running them over with an armored jeep.
After the army fired “Energa” anti-tank grenades at the besieged home, a military bulldozer demolished it.
Meanwhile, hours later, media reports said that Israeli forces were besieging four additional homes, detained and assaulted at least one young man, after storming many citizens’ homes.
Sources said that on Thursday evening, an armed Israeli drone fired a missile at a vehicle near a coffee shop, killing a young man, while soldiers killed another man after shooting him with live rounds near the entrance to the town.
They added that occupation soldiers shot two other citizens, including a child who sustained serious gunshot wounds, and a young man who sustained moderate injuries.
The attacking army fired tear gas canisters and live rounds at journalists who gathered to cover the events of the military incursion, and prevented ambulance crews from approaching the besieged home.
According to Ahmad Jarara’a, the Qabatiya Education Director, hundreds of students and staff were trapped in the Abu al-Rob and Qabatiya schools and dozens suffered inhalation injuries as a result of tear gas exposure.
Jarara’a added that, “The situation is very dangerous, and we are trying to ensure the safety of the students through continuous communication to secure their exit, stressing that the occupation forces have turned the surroundings of Izzat Abu al-Rab and Qabatiya Elementary Schools into a war zone.”
In addition to the terror inflicted on the town, military bulldozers caused destruction to the infrastructure, including electrical networks, and caused damage to commercial stalls.
