5 Palestinians injured, 19 arrested in Israeli raid in West Bank

By Awad al-Rujoub

RAMALLAH, Palestine (AA) – Five Palestinians were injured by Israeli fire while 19 others detained in Israeli raids in the occupied West Bank on Monday, according to state media and a local NGO.

Israeli soldiers stationed at Dutan military checkpoint, southwest of Jenin, opened fire at four Palestinians near the town of Yabad, the state news agency WAFA reported.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said one of the injured was in serious condition.

A Palestinian medic was also hurt after being attacked by Israeli soldiers while providing medical attention to the injured, WAFA reported.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian Prisoner Society NGO said that 19 Palestinians were detained by Israeli forces during military raids in the cities of Bethlehem, Hebron, Nablus and Ramallah.
There was no comment from the Israeli military on the report.

Tensions have been running high across the occupied West Bank in recent months amid repeated Israeli raids into Palestinian towns along with attacks and assaults carried out by Israeli settlers who are usually guarded by the Israeli army.

More than 200 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since the start of this year, according to the Health Ministry. At least 34 Israelis - soldiers and settlers – have also been killed in Palestinian attacks during the same period, marking the highest figure of Israeli fatalities since 2005.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar