36 Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in West Bank in 1 week

By Ahmed Asmar

ANKARA (AA) - The Palestinian Health Ministry said on Friday that 36 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces across the occupied West Bank since fighting broke out last Saturday between Palestinian groups and Israel.

The ministry said in a statement that the last victim was identified as 24-year-old Soliman Farid Malasa, who died from wounds sustained during an Israeli forces attack on the village of Deir Ibzi, near Ramallah in central West Bank.

It added that 650 Palestinians were injured in Israeli forces attacks in the West Bank, with 210 admitted to hospitals since Saturday.

Meanwhile, Israeli forces arrested dozens of Palestinians across the West Bank during the same period, according to separate statements.

In a dramatic escalation of Middle East tensions, Israeli forces launched a sustained and forceful military campaign against the Gaza Strip, a response to a military offensive by the Palestinian group Hamas in Israeli territories.

The conflict began last Saturday when Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood against Israel, a multi-pronged surprise attack including a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel via land, sea, and air.

Hamas said the operation was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and Israeli settlers’ growing violence against Palestinians.

The Israeli military then launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets within the Gaza Strip.

Israel's response has extended into cutting water and electricity supplies to Gaza, further worsening the living conditions in an area that has reeled under a crippling siege since 2007.

The number of Palestinians killed from Israeli attacks on the besieged Gaza Strip has risen to 1,537, the Health Ministry in Gaza announced Thursday. The statement noted that the dead included 500 children and 276 women, with 6,612 people injured.