IOF escalate West Bank violence, kill two, withhold their bodies
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Israeli forces and settlers intensify their assaults across the West Bank, killing two Palestinians, injuring others, and making several arrests during mass raids.
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Palestinians walk past invading Israeli soldiers in the West Bank refugee camp of Tulkarm while residents evacuate as the Israeli military continues its operations ahead of planned home demolitions, Sunday, July 6, 2025 (AP)
Israeli forces and settlers intensified their assaults on Palestinians in the West Bank on Friday, with attacks targeting civilians and property, killing two Palestinians.
The Palestinian General Civil Affairs Authority reported that Palestinian youth Wadee Mohammad Othman Samara was killed by Israeli occupation forces near Adh-Dhahiriya, west of al-Khalil, who then withheld his body.
Similarly, an unidentified person was killed in Fajjar in the Beit Lahm governorate, and his body was also withheld by the IOF.
Meanwhile, a Palestinian boy, Mohammed Khaled Hassan Mabrouk, succumbed to his injuries after being shot by Israeli troops during an incursion into the al-Ein camp, west of Nablus, earlier this week.
According to documentation by the Palestinian Information Center, 1,051 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since "Israel's" war on Gaza began on October 7, 2023.
IOF, Israeli settlers jointly assault Palestinians
The Palestinian news agency WAFA reported that two Palestinians were injured after being beaten by Israeli forces during separate assaults in Bani Naim, east of al-Khalil, and in Masafer Yatta to the south.
Settlers also attacked three Palestinian civilians during their incursion into at-Tuwani village in Masafer Yatta, under the protection of Israeli soldiers, including village council head Mohammed Rabee, leaving them with bruises and injuries.
Additionally, WAFA reported that a Palestinian youth was shot at by Israeli occupation forces in Dar Salah, east of Beit Lahm.
More Palestinians arrested
In the town of al-Doha, west of Beit Lahm, Israeli forces detained three brothers while they were driving through the southern entrance of al-Khader village, locally known as al-Nashash.
Palestinian sources reported the arrest of two Palestinian youths from Anabta after Israeli forces raided their homes, while another youth was detained from his residence in the Dhanaba neighborhood.
Additionally, Israeli forces rearrested freed detainee Ayed Mahmoud Dar Khalil after raiding and searching his home.
These escalations come as "Israel" continues to violate the sovereignty of the West Bank and its residents, most recently by passing a law that claims Israeli sovereignty over the Palestinian territory.
'Israel' votes on legalizing the occupation
On July 23, the Israeli parliament passed a controversial bill claiming Israeli "sovereignty" over the West Bank and Jordan Valley, with the legislation receiving majority support from Knesset members.
The vote passed with 71 members supporting the measure and 13 opposing it, demonstrating the cohesion within the right-wing ruling coalition while also securing unexpected support from the opposition Yisrael Beiteinu party.
While the resolution itself holds no binding legal authority, its passage before a three-month legislative break reflects increasing political traction for "annexation policies". It follows the Knesset's 2024 rejection of Palestinian statehood and aligns with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's persistent efforts to formalize Israeli authority throughout the West Bank.
