The spiral of violence in the Middle East continues: numerous shots are fired during a raid by Israeli security forces in the West Bank. Three Palestinians die and dozens of people are said to have been injured.
According to Palestinian sources, at least three Palestinians were killed and dozens more injured in an Israeli military operation in Nablus in the West Bank. The Ministry of Health in Ramallah said six of the 67 injured were in critical condition. The dead are therefore a 72-year-old, a 33-year-old and a 25-year-old. The Israeli military only announced that there had been an operation in the city in the morning. At first there was no further information. Nablus is considered a stronghold of militant Palestinians.
According to Palestinian reports, Israeli forces had surrounded a house in the city during a raid. This led to clashes with militant Palestinians. Eyewitnesses reported explosions and shots in the city.
The security situation in Israel and the Palestinian territories has long been extremely tense. Since the beginning of the year, nine Israelis and one Ukrainian have been killed in attacks by Palestinians. In the same period, 51 Palestinians lost their lives – they were shot in clashes with the Israeli army or after their own attacks. There are also repeated reports of violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians, Israeli activists or soldiers.
Israel conquered the West Bank and East Jerusalem in 1967. More than 600,000 Israeli settlers live there today. The Palestinians claim the territories for an independent state of Palestine with the Arab-influenced eastern part of Jerusalem as the capital.
