5 Palestinians killed by Israeli fire in West Bank

HEBRON, RAMALLAH, Palestine (AA) – Five Palestinians were killed by Israeli army fire in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, according to the Health Ministry and Israeli media.

A ministry statement said that one fatality occurred in the town of Beit Ummar near Hebron city and two others in the village of Kafr Ein, northwest of Ramallah.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said its medics treated 22 Palestinians injured by Israeli fire in Beit Ummar.

According to local residents, violent clashes erupted between Israeli forces and angry Palestinians during an Israeli military raid.

Israeli forces used live fire, rubber-coated bullets, and tear gas canisters, they said.

Meanwhile, a Palestinian was shot dead by Israeli forces after he allegedly hit an Isreali citizen in the occupied West Bank, Public broadcaster KAN said.

KAN said a Palestinian driver hit an Israeli female with his vehicle near the Kochav Yaakov settlement in the central West Bank.

Israeli forces chased him and shot him dead, KAN said.

The Israeli female sustained moderate injuries in the attack, the broadcaster said.

There was no comment yet from Palestinian authorities.

A Palestinian teenager died after he was shot in the chest by Israeli soldiers in the village of al-Mugir, northeast of Ramallah, Health Ministry said in a separate statement.

Eyewitnesses said that Israeli soldiers who raided al-Mugir used live ammunition and tear gas against dozens of Palestinians.

The young man was identified as Raid al-Nasan, the state news agency Wafa reported.

Tension has been running high across the West Bank in recent weeks amid repeated Israeli raids to detain what they call “wanted Palestinians” or to demolish Palestinian homes.