Two Palestinians killed in brutal Israeli raid on Tulkarm

Two young Palestinians were shot dead in a Thursday morning raid by Israeli forces in the city of Tulkarm while hundreds more were wounded in attacks elsewhere in the occupied West Bank. At least five Israeli soldiers were also injured.

The Palestinian health ministry announced the deaths of Abdul Rahman Fares Muhammad Atta, 23, and Hudayfah Adnan Muhammad Fares, 27, near Tulkarm.

The Israeli army said that its forces from the Golani Brigade "were engaged in military activity near the village of Shufa near Tulkarm", alleging that they came under fire by the two Palestinian men.

Soldiers then cut off roads and found a vehicle suspected of being used by the two Palestinian men.

شهداء طولكرم

الشهيد عبد الرحمن فارس محمد عطا (23 عاماً)
الشهيد حذيفة عدنان محمد فارس (27 عاماً)

في جنات الخلود pic.twitter.com/r7xlBc5Bjl

— الحـكـيم (@Hakeam_ps) October 5, 2023

The army claimed that an M16 weapon and ammunition were found inside the car.

An Israeli raid on the Tulkarm camp on Thursday also saw Palestinian fighters battling with Israeli soldiers.

The Tulkarm Brigade, affiliated with the Lions' Den, claimed that they "killed and wounded" a number of Israeli soldiers.

While The New Arab could not verify claims that Israeli soldiers were killed, Israeli authorities confirmed that five Israeli soldiers were wounded - including three in a critical condition - and were taken to hospital.

فيديو من مسافة قريبة يوثق اصابة جندي صهيوني بالرصاص في مخيم طولكرم pic.twitter.com/skFFg086jy

— ‏جَفرَا الحُب والثَورَة 🇵🇸 𓂆 (@jafra_ps) October 5, 2023

Translation: A close-range video documents the wounding of a Zionist soldier by bullets in Tulkarm camp.

Separately, in the Balata camp, east of Nablus, Palestinians clashed with Israeli forces who carried out a raid at dawn on Thursday, resulting in nearly 200 injuries among Palestinians.

Videos and images shared online showed Israeli vehicles driving through Balata, as well as smoke billowing from the camp and the sound of gunfire.

من اقتحام مخيم بلاطة .. pic.twitter.com/X1dxRiPwD3

— العَرِيـنْ𓂆. (@Areen165) October 5, 2023

عاجل| مراسل وكالة سند للأنباء:
اشتباكات وإطلاق نار كثيف في محيط مخيم بلاطة #بنابلس. pic.twitter.com/Ro6TYk1PiQ

— وكالة سند للأنباء - Snd News Agency (@Snd_pal) October 4, 2023

عاجل | تغطية صحفية: "استهداف قوات الاحتلال بعبوة ناسفة عقب اقتحام مخيم بلاطة شرق نابلس". pic.twitter.com/gF3olVqZHQ

— شبكة قدس الإخبارية (@qudsn) October 5, 2023

Translation: Occupation forces targeting by an explosive device during a raid on the Balata camp east of Nablus.

Three Palestinians were reportedly wounded in gunfire while others were injured by smoke bombs and tear gas.

Several cars belonging to Palestinians were damaged or destroyed by Israeli vehicles at the entrance to Balata, eyewitnesses said.

The storming was reportedly to ensure the safe access of radical Jewish Israeli settlers to Joseph’s Tomb in Nablus. The settlers arrived in more than 50 buses from different settlements in the Nablus governorate in the West Bank.

Israeli media said about 2,000 settlers had gone to the tomb where they believe Prophet Joseph was buried. Settlers – protected by Israeli forces – regularly visit the tomb, often leading to confrontations with Palestinian residents.

Palestinians however deny that it is the burial site of Prophet Joseph - also revered by Muslims - saying it is no more than 200 years old and belongs to a Muslim man who lived in the area called Youssef Doueikat.

The Nablus Battalion of the Al-Quds Brigade, affiliated with the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement, said its fighters engaged in clashes with Israeli forces, using gunfire and explosives.

More than 200 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the year by Israeli forces and settlers.