Israeli forces raid Palestinian town in West Bank after truck attack

By Qais Abu Samra

RAMALLAH, Palestine (AA) – Israeli forces raided a Palestinian town in the West Bank on Thursday, shortly after a local resident carried out a truck attack in the occupied territory, according to witnesses.

An Israeli soldier was killed and five other people injured early Thursday when a Palestinian driver rammed his truck into a group of soldiers near a military checkpoint in Ramallah.

The attacker was shot and injured by Israeli soldiers.

Shortly after the attack, Israeli forces staged a military raid into the town of Deir Ammar, west of Ramallah, triggering clashes with local residents, eyewitnesses said.

One Palestinian was injured by live fire and dozens suffered temporary asphyxiation from tear gas canisters fired by Israeli forces, medical sources said.

Israeli forces raided a number of houses in the town and questioned several residents, witnesses said.

Tensions have been running high across the occupied West Bank in recent months amid repeated Israeli raids into Palestinian towns.

More than 200 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since the start of this year, according to the Health Ministry. At least 35 Israelis have also been killed in Palestinian attacks during the same period, the highest toll since 2005.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar in Ankara