Palestinian Health Ministry says teenager killed in Israeli operation

Ghassan Gharib Zahran was “martyred by the bullets of the occupying forces” in Deir Abu Mishal near Ramallah, the Health Ministry said in a statement.

The Israeli army told AFP that “terrorists threw stones at Israeli vehicles in the Deir Abu Mishal area.”

The troops “opened fire, resulting in the injury of a terrorist,” the army added in a separate statement.

The boy’s cousin, Munther Zahran, said the dead boy was hit by a “bullet in the stomach” while he was on the main road in Deir Abu Mishal.

“The road is used by settlers and is constantly monitored by the army,” he added.

The West Bank has been occupied by Israel since 1967. Since Hamas’ attack on southern Israel sparked a bitter conflict in the Gaza Strip over nine months ago, there has been an escalation of violence there.

According to Palestinian officials, at least 572 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli troops or settlers in the West Bank since October 7.

The Nur Shams camp near Tulkarem has also been the target of several army operations in recent weeks.

As an AFP journalist saw, army bulldozers tore up the camp’s main street on Tuesday and destroyed several buildings.

Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa said the Israeli action would have serious “humanitarian implications.”

“Recent events have seen unprecedented destruction of critical infrastructure, including water and electricity networks, as well as significant demolition of Palestinian homes,” Mustafa said in a statement.

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