Israeli forces kill Palestinian teen in West Bank raids

Published
15
Mourners attend the funeral of Palestinian Udai Salah, 17, who was killed by Israeli forces during attacks in a raid, in Kafar Dan village near Jenin in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Sept 15. — Reuters
Mourners attend the funeral of Palestinian Udai Salah, 17, who was killed by Israeli forces during attacks in a raid, in Kafar Dan village near Jenin in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Sept 15. — Reuters

A Palestinian teenager was killed on Thursday during raids from Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank as the military was pursuing targets allegedly linked to a soldier’s killing.

The Palestinian health ministry identified the victim as Uday Salah, 17, saying he was “killed by a bullet to the head fired by the Israeli occupation soldiers in Kafr Dan, Jenin governorate”, an area that has seen near-daily violence in recent months.

The Israeli army said its forces were “mapping out the homes of the terrorists who killed Major Bar Falah”, who was shot dead at a checkpoint north of Jenin in pre-dawn clashes on Wednesday. Two Palestinians, Ahmed Abed and Abdul Rahman Abed, also died in Wednesday’s violence.

The army added that the aim of the mapping exercise was “to examine the possibility of demolishing the residences of the terrorists”, who killed Falah, part of Israel’s controversial practice of destroying the homes of Palestinian fighters accused of deadly attacks.

“During the mapping process, armed suspects hurled explosive devices and Molotov cocktails and fired toward the soldiers,” the statement said.

“In response, the soldiers fired toward the suspects. Hits were identified.”

Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that soldiers had raided the family homes of both Ahmed and Abdul Rahman, and arrested “Amer Taha Abed, who is the cousin of the martyr Ahmed Abed”.

The army said that “two suspects were apprehended for assisting the terrorists who shot Major Bar Falah,” adding that six more suspects were arrested in other West Bank locations.

Hamas “saluted” the “heroes of Jenin who fought tonight”, praising Palestinians who “stand up to the daily raids by the occupation throughout the occupied West Bank.”

The Al Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades, the armed wing of Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas’s secular Fatah movement, said its fighters were involved in Thursday’s clashes.

The same movement had claimed responsibility for the Israeli major’s death on Wednesday.

Jenin has suffered frequent violence in recent months, part of a deadly flare-up that began in mid-March.

Israel has launched near-nightly raids on West Bank towns and cities that have killed dozens of Palestinians, including fighters.

Last week, Israeli army chief Aviv Kohavi said “around 1,500 wanted people were arrested and hundreds of attacks prevented” in the operations.

Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967 when it captured the territory from Jordan.

Opinion

Editorial

Kashmir unresolved
Updated 30 Sep, 2026

Kashmir unresolved

The just solution lies in India addressing the issue through a trilateral dialogue involving the legitimate representatives of the Kashmiri people and Pakistan.
Water shortage
30 Sep, 2026

Water shortage

THAT the country is entering the Rabi season with an anticipated water shortage of nearly 25pc, the lowest carryover...
Young hearts
30 Sep, 2026

Young hearts

THE observance may have passed, but the message of World Heart Day should not fade with it. The occasion is a useful...
Terror and politics
Updated 29 Sep, 2026

Terror and politics

There is an urgent need to tone down the rhetoric and tackle terrorism as a collective challenge for both the affected provinces and the federation.
Watching the glaciers
29 Sep, 2026

Watching the glaciers

THE latest signs from Pakistan’s mountains are worrying. Suparco says the number of unfrozen glacial lakes it...
Dangerous agenda
29 Sep, 2026

Dangerous agenda

AS the world remains fixated on the US-Iran conflict, elsewhere in the Middle East, Israel is consolidating its grip...