AL-QUDS (Dispatches) – The Zionist regime’s military said troops shot a Palestinian on Friday near the city of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank. Palestinian authorities said the man died of his wounds a short while later.
The Palestinian Health Ministry identified the man as Yazan Khaseeb, 23.
It said Khaseeb died “after the occupation [Zionist troops] opened fire on him at the northern entrance of al-Bireh” city near Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank, on Friday.
The death comes amid simmering tensions as the Zionist regime have intensified crackdown on growing armed Palestinian resistance.
The official Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that he was arrested in critical condition by the occupying regime’s troops, only to succumb to his serious gunshot wounds and pronounced dead a few minutes later.
Palestinian ambulance and medical staff were denied access by the regime army to the scene, where the young man was first reported wounded.
Khaseeb’s body was held by occupation military forces for two hours, before it was turned over to the Palestinian side.
The Zionist regime’s army later asserted in a statement that its forces “spotted a suspect and asked him to identify himself”. It further claimed that the man then drew a knife and the troops opened fire and “neutralized” him.
It added the killing took place close to Beitin, a Palestinian village near al-Bireh. None of the Zionist troops was harmed in the purported incident.
Since the start of this year, at least 88 Palestinians, including 17 children and one woman, have been killed by regime forces, according to the Palestinian health ministry.
Jenin recorded the highest number of fatalities with 35 victims, followed by Nablus with 21.
Seven Palestinians were also shot and killed by Zionist troops in Al-Khalil, and another six lost lives in Al-Quds. The rest of the Palestinians were fatally shot in the cities of Ariha, Qalqilya, Ramallah, al-Bireh, Bethlehem, Salfit and Tubas as well as the besieged Gaza Strip.
The European Union called for an immediate investigation into the murder of 16-year-old Palestinian teenager Omar Awadin by Zionist troops in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin a day earlier.
In a tweet, the bloc called for a prompt and transparent investigation into the killing, affirming that children enjoy special protection under international law.
Over the past months, the occupying regime has ramped up attacks on Palestinian towns and cities throughout the occupied territories. As a result of these attacks, dozens of Palestinians have lost their lives and many others have been arrested.
Local and international rights groups have condemned the occupying regime’s excessive use of force and “shoot-to-kill policy” against Palestinians.
Palestinians in various parts of the occupied West Bank and al-Quds have held a general strike to mourn the victims of the latest Zionist raid into Jenin.
According to the Palestinian Wafa news agency, businesses, schools, universities and various other facilities shut down their doors in Jenin and other towns. The strike also included public transportation.