Israeli troops kill two Palestinians, injure several others in Nablus raid

Two Palestinians have been shot dead during an Israeli military raid in the occupied West Bank city of Nablus, as the Israeli regime’s far-right Netanyahu administration intensifies its deadly raids across the occupied territories.

The official Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that confrontations broke out soon after Israeli forces stormed Nablus, located approximately 49 kilometers (30 miles) north of al-Quds, in the early hours of Monday, with dozens of armored vehicles and special forces.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health later identified the victims as Muhammad Nasser Saeed and Muhammad Abu Bakr Junaidi.

The victims sustained serious gunshot wounds as Palestinian resistance fighters engaged in clashes with Israeli forces during the raid. Witnesses described Israeli soldiers opening fire indiscriminately.

Ahmed Jibril, director of ambulance and emergency services at the Palestine Red Crescent Society in Nablus, said the pair were transported to Rafidia Surgical Hospital and Nablus Speciality Hospital, where they were pronounced dead shortly afterward.

He added that Israeli troops raided Nablus Speciality Hospital with poisonous gas bombs.

Jibril noted that at least 55 Palestinians also suffered breathing difficulties due to inhaling tear gas fired by the Israeli forces. A man was injured in his foot after he was attacked by an Israeli police dog.

The Israeli forces also arrested two citizens, identified as Izz al-Din Touqan and Nidal Tabanga, after they forced their way into their houses and ransacked them.

Hamas calls for retaliation 

The Gaza-based Hamas resistance movement said, “There is no way to confront the occupying Israeli regime other than resistance and an increase in retaliatory measures.” 

“Monday morning’s deaths, which bring the number of Palestinians killed since the start of the year to 95, clearly indicate the rise in the criminal policy of the Israeli enemy and its widespread exercise of murder and assassination,” Hamas said.

It also stressed that the surge in the Israeli regime’s crimes and its utter disregard for Palestinian lives necessitate stronger retaliatory measures against Israeli troops and extremist Jewish settlers.

“Our revolutionary youths are ready to respond to the crime, and fully prepared to defend our nation as well as the holy al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the face of the incessant aggression of Israeli forces and terrorist settler groups, which is being directly and publicly sponsored by the incumbent far-right administration [led by prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu],” the resistance movement added.

Over the past months, Israel has ramped up attacks on Palestinian towns and cities throughout the occupied territories. As a result of these attacks, dozens of Palestinians have lost their lives and many others have been arrested.

Most of the raids have focused on Nablus and Jenin, where Israeli forces have been trying to stifle a growing Palestinian resistance against occupation.

Local and international rights groups have condemned Israel’s excessive use of force and “shoot-to-kill policy” against Palestinians.

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