Three Palestinians martyred and two others injured by Israeli occupation fire in the West Bank

Ramallah, July 23 (KUNA) -- The Palestinian General Authority for Civil Affairs announced on Thursday the martyrdom of three Palestinians and the injury of two others at the hands of Israeli occupation forces in the West Bank cities of Nablus and Jenin.

In a statement, the Authority said it had informed the Palestinian Ministry of Health of the martyrdom of 16-year-old Muhammad Malaita and 20-year-old Mahmoud Abu Samra from the town of Beit Fureik, east of Nablus Governorate, after they were shot by occupation forces earlier in the day, and that their bodies were detained.

In a separate statement, it said that 25-year-old Yazen Swafita was martyred by occupation gunfire east of Jenin city in the evening, and his body was also detained.

Eyewitnesses confirmed in media statements that Israeli occupation forces opened fire on Malaita and Abu Samra and detained them without disclosing their medical condition until their martyrdom was announced.

Meanwhile, two other Palestinians were shot by occupation forces in the same town and were transported to a hospital, where medical sources described their condition as moderate.

It is worth noting that Israeli occupation forces closed the military checkpoint at the entrance to the towns of Beit Fureik and Beit Dajan, both in the same governorate, and deployed military reinforcements, alleging that Malaita and Abu Samra had carried out a stabbing attack near a settlement outpost established on citizens’ land, which resulted in a settler being seriously injured.

Settlers had set fire to lands in the two towns, and when residents attempted to extinguish the flames, the Israeli army stormed the area to protect the settlers, opened fire on the residents, and prevented fire trucks and ambulances from reaching the scene. (End) N.Q./A.B.Kh.