RAMALLAH (Dispatches) –
Palestinians have condemned the killing of a Palestinian young man by a Zionist trooper in the town of Huwara, south of the northern West Bank.
Palestinian eyewitnesses said that the police officer opened fire immediately at point blank at the young man, which was also confirmed by video footage published by Palestinian local media outlets and on social media.
The Palestinian youth was identified as 22-year-old Ammar Mefleh.
The Palestinian Red Crescent said Zionist troops blocked emergency responders from reaching the victim.
Clashes erupted in Huwara after the killing as Zionist troops shot and injured a Palestinian, and dozens of others were targeted with teargas canisters shot by the occupying regime’s troops.
On Friday, Palestinian health ministry said that it was informed by the Palestinian liaison (coordination with the occupying regime) office of the killing of the Palestinian young man in central Huwara.
The Palestinian presidency said in a press statement that what happened in Huwara “is a clear crime that was documented by the street cameras,” and “it is a clear execution and a cold-blood killing of a defenseless young man.”
Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Ishtaye said the scene of “the criminal execution” in Huwara reflected the organized terrorism practiced by the occupation troops.
In Gaza, Tariq Ezz el-Din, spokesman for the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement, also condemned the killing.
Hazem Qassem, spokesman for the resistance movement Hamas in Gaza, said, “the Israeli occupation forces’ execution of a Palestinian civilian is a heinous crime that would make the Palestinian people more determined to resist the occupation.”
The European Union called for conducting an investigation into the killing of Palestinian civilians by the regime in the occupied West Bank.
In a statement on Twitter, the EU said Zionist troops appear to use excessive “lethal force”, citing that 10 Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces in the past 72 hours.
“Gravely concerned about the increasing level of violence in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem (Al-Quds),” the statement said.
The EU said 2022 was the “deadliest year since 2006, with 140 Palestinians killed” by Zionist troops in the occupied West Bank and East Al-Quds.