Palestinian forces disperse mourners after Israeli killing spree in West Bank

Palestinian security forces dispersed protesters in Jenin on Thursday, mourning the death of three men from the city killed in an Israeli air strike.

Israeli forces killed nine Palestinians in the last 24 hours, amid a spree of raids and airstrikes across the West Bank.

The victims were identified as 31-year-old Mahmoud Rahal, 20-year-old Ahmed Barakat, and 20-year-old Mohammad Fayed, while three more were injured.

In the hours following the airstrike near Jenin, Palestinians mourning the deceased headed to the Palestinian Authority’s security headquarters in the city, and demanded the release of militants detained by the Palestinian security forces.

The mourners were quickly dispersed with live fire and tear gas, injuring three, while the unrest in the city continued until the morning.

In the southern West Bank, Israeli forces killed 63-year-old Sameh Zeitoun near the Israeli Eliezer settlement, with reports claiming the man was a Palestinian convert to Judaism.

An Israeli army statement claimed that Zeitoun had a knife in his bag.

Palestinian Authority (PA) security forces open fire on mourners taking part in the funeral procession of three Palestinians killed in an Israeli airstrike earlier today in Jenin. pic.twitter.com/P7bPE9f2Vy

— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) March 20, 2024

In Ramallah, Israeli forces wounded three Palestinians during a night raid into the city, one of whom succumbed to his wounds and was pronounced dead on Thursday morning.

The victim was 16-year-old Mohammad Salhieh from the Amaari refugee camp in Ramallah.

Meanwhile, another Israeli drone strike killed two Palestinians at the Nur Shams refugee camp in Tulkarm, in the north west of the West Bank. Shortly after, Israeli forces killed two more Palestinians in a raid into Nur Shams.

Three Palestinians were killed and one injured after an Israeli drone targeted the car they were driving in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin.

The Israeli military claimed that it employed an aircraft to strike a car carrying four fighters, two of whom had led attacks on… pic.twitter.com/2gxA6JIuIv

— TRT World (@trtworld) March 21, 2024

The four Palestinians killed in Tulkarm were identified as Mohammad Jabaawi, Abdallah Qaisi, Nidal Abu Obeid, and Eyad Kanouh.

The Jenin Brigade mourned the three killed in Jenin as its members, while the four killed in Tulkarm were also confirmed to be fighters.

Israel’s raids on West Bank cities, especially Jenin and Tulkarm, have continued to escalate since 7 October, with more than 7,500 Palestinians detained.

An Israeli bulldozer is seen razing and destroying the infrastructure whilst the occupation raids Nour Shams refugee camp in Tulkarm. pic.twitter.com/DUpLwWiDQ5

— Eye on Palestine (@EyeonPalestine) March 21, 2024

Last month, the Israeli army and intelligence urged the Israeli government to ease control on Palestinians in the West Bank during the holy month of Ramadan.

Although thousands of Palestinians have been allowed to enter Jerusalem, Israeli raids in the West Bank have continued on a daily basis.

The number of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank since 7 October has not risen to 449, and 127 since the beginning of 2024.