Israeli forces have killed six Palestinians in two separate incidents in the past 24 hours with five Palestinians being killed in the West Bank, and another in Gaza, marking an unending impunity on Israel. On Tuesday, Israeli forces raided the Jenin refugee camp in the northern West Bank, leading to the deaths of four Palestinians.
Moreover, around 30 others sustained injuries, according to Palestinian health authorities.
The deceased were identified as Mahmoud Saadi (23 years old), Mahmoud Ararawi (24 years old), Raafat Khamayseh (22 years old), and Atta Mousa (29 years old). Early Wednesday morning, Israeli forces raided the refugee camp of Aqabat Jabr in Jericho.
A statement by the military said that troops opened fire toward a Palestinian who was throwing explosives at them.
The Palestinian health ministry identified the man as 19-year-old Dhargham al-Akhras.
In Gaza, the Palestinian man killed was identified as Yousef Salem Radwan, 25. He was shot by Israeli forces east of Khan Yunis in Gaza, reported Palestinian media.
The violence came after Israel announced late on Sunday that it would keep the Beit Hanoun (called “Erez” by Israel) crossing closed following an eruption of border protests and a “security assessment” by defence officials. “The reopening of the crossing will be subject to ongoing evaluation based on the evolving situation in the region,” said COGAT, a unit of the Israeli defence ministry responsible for Palestinian civilian affairs.
The closure of Beit Hanoun, the sole pedestrian passageway out of the enclave into Israel, has left roughly 18,000 Palestinians from Gaza who have been issued Israeli work permits unable to access their jobs.
The string of protests came during a holiday season in Israel that began with the Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year last week and continues through the Sukkot festival next week. During the holidays, large numbers of Jews are expected to enter the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, also known to Jews as the Temple Mount, in occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City – in the past this has meant restrictions on Palestinian access to the holy site, which is also a Palestinian national symbol.
On Monday, Israeli forces attacked Palestinian worshippers at Bab as-Silsila, one of the main entrances to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem. They also denied access to any Palestinian below the age of 50 to clear the way for Israeli settlers on Rosh Hashanah.