Tensions soar as West Bank violence rages on
Two Palestinians were critically wounded yesterday by Israeli military fire in the northern West Bank, the Palestinian health ministry said, amid heightened tensions in the occupied territory.
One Palestinian was hit by "live bullets to the chest" during clashes with Israeli troops in the village of Qarawat Bani Hassan, southwest of Nablus, the ministry said, adding that another was also critically wounded.
Both were taken to hospital in the nearby town of Salfit.
The Israeli army said in a statement that "suspects hurled rocks" at soldiers who responded to "a violent riot" near Qarawat Bani Hassan.
The troops used live fire "to stop the suspects", the army said, adding that "hits were identified."
The latest violence follows an Israeli raid in the flashpoint city of Jenin on Friday that left two Palestinian dead. Hours later Israeli troops killed a Palestinian accused of firing shots at the Beit El settlement in the occupied West Bank, wounding a resident.
Violence has surged in recent months in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, amid near daily West Bank raids and an uptick in attacks on Israeli troops.
More than 100 Palestinian fighters and civilians have been killed since the start of the year, the heaviest toll in the West Bank for nearly seven years, according to the United Nations.
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