Israeli forces have shot dead three Palestinians by opening fire on their vehicle in the al-Tur area of Nablus city, occupied West Bank with eyewitnesses saying the troops deliberately targeted surveillance cameras in an apparent attempt to conceal evidence related to the incident and blocked roads to prevent ambulances from reaching the victims promptly.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health confirmed the fatalities in an official statement. The victims were identified as Noureddine Tayseer Al-Ardah, aged 32, Montaser Bahjat Ali Salameh, aged 33, and Saad Maher Al-Kharraz, aged 43.
Eyewitnesses said that Israeli forces deliberately targeted surveillance cameras in the vicinity, raising concerns of possible evidence suppression, WAFA news agency reported.
Israeli forces also prevented medical staff from reaching the scene to provide aid to the victims. They proceeded to seize the bodies of the deceased Palestinians, along with the targeted vehicle, Palestinian Tv broadcasted.
The incident took a distressing turn as Israeli forces closed off the area for several hours, denying access to journalists and medical personnel.
Israeli forces also blocked the entrance to Jabal Jarzim with a metal gate, preventing citizens from entering or leaving the area.
According to the Israeli military, three individuals they described as "armed terrorists" in a Nablus, West Bank opened fire on their troops from a vehicle, prompting the troops to respond with gunfire in an attempt to "neutralize" the perceived threat.
The occupied West Bank has been witnessing a sharp escalation in violence as Israeli forces intensify raids in the region.
The number of Palestinian fatalities this year has surpassed 200 in the occupied Palestinian territories with the majority of deaths occurring in the West Bank.
Earlier this month, twelve Palestinians were killed including three children and one Israeli trooper in the Jenin refugee camp, occupied West Bank after Israel carried out a series of airstrikes using drones and missiles. The military operation was accompanied by a massive deployment of hundreds of troops in the area.
It is pertinent to mention that a new generation of armed groups is emerging to fight against Israel's occupation. These emerging factions, based in the West Bank, are introducing a transformative shift in Palestinian armed resistance as they see politically affiliated militant groups and Mahmood Abaas’s leadership as futile.