Two Palestinians killed by Israeli forces, as deadly West Bank raids ensue

Israeli forces have killed two Palestinians early Friday near Tubas in the occupied West Bank, according to Palestinian news outlets. 

The deceased Palestinians have since been identified as Mohammed Rasoul and Mohammad Issam al-Shahmawi. 

Rasoul was reported to be targeted by Israeli gunfire during an ambush in his vehicle, while al-Shahmawi was shot during a military raid in the al-Far'a refugee camp, located in south of Tubas. 

Rasoul led the Tubas Battalion, which consists of a group of young men who have militarily resisted Israeli forces, according to news publication Al Jazeera. 

The news outlet added that Tubas’ fighting battalion is newly formed, in comparison to other armed resistance groups in Jenin, Balata refugee camps and other sites. 

Young men in Tubas, Far’a and neighbouring areas had joined to create the armed group, which is said to be a response to the brutality of Israel’s military occupation. 

Rasoul was also the son of Omar Daraghmeh, who was the first Palestinian to be killed in Israeli prison since the outbreak of the conflict, following his arrest on 9 October. 

Daraghmeh was a Hamas leader in the occupied West Bank, Al Jazeera added. 

Tubas, West Bank |

Two Palestinians were killed by Israeli occupation forces in Tubas.

One of them is a senior Palestinian resistance fighter who was killed during gunfire exchange with Israeli occupation forces this morning pic.twitter.com/xgSdfsxKVz

— Younis Tirawi | يونس (@ytirawi) April 12, 2024

Israeli news sources such as The Times of Israel claimed that Rasoul was not targeted but shot at Israeli forces during the incident,which then returned fire, killing him.  

The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) additionally wrote on X that the Israeli army targeted a PRCS-affiliated ambulance in Tubas “while providing first aid for one of the injured in al-Far'a.” 

Israel has stepped up military raids in the West Bank since launching an unrelenting assault on Gaza following the October 7 attack. 

Later on Friday, the Palestinian Health Ministry said one person was shot dead in al-Mughayyer near the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah as residents reported dozens of Jewish settlers rampaging through their village, according to Reuters. 

It was not immediately clear whether he was shot by Israeli forces or settlers. 

The Palestine Red Crescent said at least 10 people were wounded, most of them by live fire, and that some ambulances trying to reach the area were shot at. 

In unverified videos circulating on social media, gunshots could be heard and heavy smoke was seen rising from a car set ablaze as residents called for help. 

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' spokesman, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, condemned Friday's settler attack and demanded urgent international intervention, particularly by the United States. 

Since the start of the Gaza war, Palestinian Health Ministry records show at least 460 Palestinians in the West Bank have been killed by Israeli forces or settlers.