Israeli forces wound three Palestinians, arrest 12 in West Bank raids

Three Palestinians were wounded with live bullets by Israeli forces late on Monday, while tens more asphyxiated due to inhaling tear gas, in various Israeli military raids in the occupied West Bank.

In the city of Nablus, north of the West Bank, Israeli forces wounded two Palestinians during a raid on the eastern part of the city. The Israeli forces were opening the way for Israeli settlers heading to the "Yousef tomb" religious site, in the eastern part of Nablus.

"Shortly after 10:30 pm on Monday the Israeli military vehicles began to move into Nablus from the eastern part," Ameen Abu Wardah, a resident of Nablus' eastern area told The New Arab.

"Young men threw stones at the Israeli army, and then some gunmen opened fire at the Israeli troops," he said. "Israeli soldiers fired very large amounts of tear gas and at least 21 people had to be treated for asphyxiation." 

"Three were wounded by Israeli live fire, one of whom was hit in the chest and is in a critical condition," he added.

eye.on.palestine 🇵🇸#Palestine | Number of Palestinians were injured during the confrontations with Israeli occupation forces in the eastern area of Nablus city. Huge Israeli forces raided the city to protect settlers who broke into " Joseph's Tomb " in the city. pic.twitter.com/fJlYzJGR8w

— Johann Spischak (@SDGMasterglass) May 10, 2022

"The eastern area of Nablus, containing the Yousef tomb religious site is a very densely populated area, containing three refugee camps and two schools, all affected by tear gas and fire at each Israeli raid," Abu Wardah explained, adding that "these raids happen once or twice every month."

Meanwhile, in the village of Rummanah, west of Jenin, Israeli forces continued raids and home searches for the second day in a row, arresting four Palestinians. The village is the hometown of the two Palestinians who killed three Israelis in a stabbing attack in Elad, near Tel Aviv last Thursday.

Simultaneously confrontations were reported between Palestinian civilians and Israeli forces in the village of Azoun, east of Qalqiliyah in the northwest of the West Bank, and in Beit Dajan, near Nablus, where Israeli forces bulldozed a Palestinian agricultural property.

The Palestinian Prisoners' Club for its side affirmed that Israeli forces arrested 12 Palestinians on Sunday from across the West Bank, including a minor.

The light of resistance shines bright in Nablus 🔥 pic.twitter.com/7y07icRj5k

— pree falestine |||| 🚀⚔️🇵🇸 (@knafenator) May 9, 2022

Israeli forces have intensified their control measures over Palestinian towns and cities in e West Bank since last week, following the stabbing attack in Elad which killed three Israelis.

The raids arrive two days after the British newspaper The Times reported that Israel was making preparations to assassinate Palestinian factions' leaders, notably those in Hamas.

In Gaza, the Palestinian armed factions announced in a joint statement that all armed groups were in a state of maximum alert ahead of major Israeli military drills, which began on Monday.