Palestinian killed, two injured by Israeli soldiers in West Bank

A Palestinian was killed and two others injured by Israeli soldiers during clashes that broke out on Thursday in a village south of the northern West Bank city of Jenin, the Palestinian Health Ministry said in a press statement.

Habib Kmeil, 25, died after he was shot by Israeli soldiers in the head during clashes in the village of Qabatiya, the statement said, adding that two other Palestinians were moderately injured.

Israeli soldiers backed by special security units stormed the village and surrounded a house there, local sources and eyewitnesses said, adding that fierce clashes broke out between dozens of Palestinians and Israeli soldiers.

Meanwhile, several Palestinian armed groups said in separate leaflets that their fighters exchanged fire with the Israeli soldiers in the village. No injuries were reported among the Israeli soldiers.

Israeli media outlets reported that an Israeli military unit arrested a Palestinian suspect for his alleged involvement in planning attacks against the Israeli army during a regular security mission in the village of Qabatiya.

According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, four Palestinians have been killed by Israeli soldiers in the past 24 hours in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Palestinian officials warned against the escalation of tension and the Israeli killings of more Palestinians in the West Bank. They held the right-wing Israeli government headed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fully responsible for the current tension.

Israeli soldiers have been carrying out daily raids on Palestinian towns, villages, and refugee camps in the West Bank to arrest Palestinian militants for their alleged involvement in shooting attacks on Israeli soldiers and settlers.

(Xinhua/NAN)