Israeli forces kill pregnant Palestinian woman, unborn baby in raid
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21-year-old Rahaf Fouad Abdullah al-Ashqar was also shot dead inside her home after Israeli forces used explosives to breach the entrance.
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Sundos Shalabi and her unborn child were murdered as she and her husband attempted to flee the violence caused by the Israeli raid
Israeli forces carried out a deadly raid in the Nur Shams refugee camp in the occupied West Bank, killing a pregnant Palestinian woman and her unborn child. The attack, part of an intensified Israeli military campaign across Palestinian territories, has drawn sharp condemnation from human rights groups and Palestinian officials.
The Palestinian Health Ministry confirmed the killing of 23-year-old Sundos Jamal Mohammed Shalabi, who was eight months pregnant, along with her unborn baby. Shalabi's husband was critically wounded in the assault. According to eyewitnesses cited by Palestinian media, Israeli forces opened fire on the pregnant woman and her husband as they were attempting to flee the violence.
The Israeli occupation forces have not issued an explanation for Shalabi's killing but had earlier announced an expansion of its military operations in the northern West Bank, targeting the Nur Shams refugee camp near Tulkarm.
The invasion, described by Palestinian officials as part of "Israel's" ongoing ethnic cleansing campaign, involved a siege on the camp, forced evictions of residents, and large-scale demolitions. Bulldozers were reportedly used to destroy homes and roads, blocking access for ambulances and emergency workers.
Killing Spree
Shalabi was not the only Palestinian woman killed during the operation. 21-year-old Rahaf Fouad Abdullah al-Ashqar was also shot dead inside her home after Israeli forces used explosives to breach the entrance. Her father was seriously wounded in the attack.
⚡️BREAKING:
— Suppressed News. (@SuppressedNws) February 9, 2025
21-year-old Palestinian, Rahaf Foad Abdullah al-Ashqar, was killed by Israeli occupation forces in Nour Shams refugee camp in Tulkarm. pic.twitter.com/U1HmzEgbtv
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry condemned the killings, stating they were "crimes of execution" and accusing Israeli forces of deliberately targeting defenseless civilians. The ministry further called for an international investigation into the continued war crimes being committed against Palestinians.
The Israeli military, which claims to be targeting ‘militants,' has refused to provide evidence linking Shalabi or al-Ashqar to any armed group. Meanwhile, Israeli Security Minister Israel Katz has openly admitted that the goal of recent military operations is to "smash the infrastructure in refugee camps" and prevent Palestinians from rebuilding.
Read more: Israeli forces shot dead Palestinian woman harvesting olives
Since the war on Gaza began in October 2023, "Israel" has escalated its attacks on the West Bank, with at least 870 Palestinians killed and more than 7,100 injured, according to Doctors Without Borders. The World Health Organization (WHO) has documented 657 attacks on Palestinian healthcare facilities in the West Bank during this period, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
Israeli forces continue to justify their actions under the pretext of "counterterrorism," while Palestinian communities endure ongoing massacres, mass displacement, and the destruction of their homes.
