Palestinian death toll highest in years: UN report

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News websites
12 Aug 2023 23:01
3 Shares

The United Nations reports that the number of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in the occupied territories this year has exceeded the total death toll for 2022.

Israeli soldiers take aim during clashes with Palestinian protesters in the center of the city of al-Khalil in the occupied West Bank on March 4, 2022 (AFP)

A recent report by the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Palestine shows that the number of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in the occupied territories this year has already exceeded the total death toll for the entirety of 2022.

Israeli forces fatally shot 13 Palestinians in the West Bank between July 25 and August 10, including three children, the report shows.

This surge in violence has brought the total count of Palestinians killed this year to a distressing 167 surpassing the figures from the same period in 2022, which already marked the highest number of fatalities in the West Bank since 2005.

The report also highlighted a tragic incident on August 4, in which a Palestinian man lost his life during a settler attack on the village of Burqa, east of Ramallah.

Furthermore, the report outlined the increasing injury toll as well, revealing that 276 Palestinians, including at least 60 children, were injured by Israeli forces between July 25 and August 7. Simultaneously, six Palestinians, including a child, were injured due to clashes with Israeli settlers. Particularly disturbing is the revelation that the number of Palestinians injured by live ammunition fired by Israeli forces in the West Bank has more than doubled compared to the same period in 2022.

Check out: 3 days into 2023… "Israel" has already committed crimes

The UN documented 591 settler-related incidents resulting in Palestinian casualties, property damage, or both in the first six months of 2023.

Israeli authorities' actions have also led to displacement and destruction in East Al-Quds and Area C of the West Bank. The report noted that 56 structures were demolished, confiscated, or forced to be demolished, displacing 23 Palestinians, including 12 children. This indicates a worrying trend of dispossession and displacement further exacerbated by the ongoing conflict.