Israeli forces kill 15 Palestinian minors in 2017

RAMALLAH (AA) - The Israeli forces have killed 15 Palestinian children in the Israeli occupied West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza Strip, an international non-governmental organization said on Tuesday.

“The Israeli forces have killed 12 Palestinian children between the age of 14-16 in the Occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem,” Defense for Children Palestine said in a statement.

“Three other Palestinian children including a 9-year-old boy was killed in the Gaza Strip,” it said.

According to the report, 12 of the children were killed after they were shot with live ammunition, while one was killed in an explosion.

“Two other children were killed in Israeli shelling in the Gaza Strip,” it said.

Tensions have mounted in the Palestinian territories since U.S. President Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital on Dec. 6, 2017

The move drew widespread condemnation from across the Arab and Muslim world and sparked angry protests across the Palestinian territories.

In the one month since Trump’s announcement, at least 16 Palestinians have been martyred -- and thousands more injured -- in clashes with Israeli forces in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza Strip.