Palestinians say one killed in Israeli West Bank raid

Palestinian official media said Israeli troops shot a man dead in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday during a raid to demolish the apartments of two detained Palestinian suspects.

“The occupation soldiers fired bullets and tear gas, killing a young man who was hit in the chest,” Palestinian official news agency, WAFA, reported.

The Israeli military said it was looking into the report.The Israeli troops had stormed Ramallah, seat of the Palestinian Authority, to demolish the apartments of two Palestinians who are in custody on suspicion of carrying out an attack in the city earlier this year.

“Suddenly, they arrived and surrounded the neighborhood and then entered the house,” Ahmed al-Barghouti, brother of one of the detainees, said.

“They told us that the house was going to be destroyed with explosives and ordered us to leave even though I’m ill and we have two elderly people in our family.”

Israel routinely demolishes the homes of Palestinians accused of carrying out attacks, arguing that such measures act as a deterrent, while critics say they amount to collective punishment.

Violence has surged in the West Bank since war broke out between Israel and Hamas in Gaza on October 7. At least 619 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli troops or settlers.

During the same period at least 18 Israelis, including soldiers, have been killed in Palestinian attacks in the territory, according to Israeli official figures.