Israeli forces killed two Palestinian teenagers during an overnight raid on a West Bank town, residents said, as violence surges in the territory.
Teens Sami Ibrahim Mashaikha, 16, and Amr Khaled Al-Marboua, 18, were shot during the raid in Kfar Aqab, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, according to the health ministry in the Palestinian Authority, which governs parts of the region.
The Israeli military deployed forces to the streets and on top of the town’s buildings before opening fire, the Palestinian WAFA news agency reported.
Israel Police said in a statement to Sky News: “Overnight, Israel Police forces operated in the Aqab area against hostile elements seeking to harm security forces and provoke violent disorder.
“During the operation, a violent disturbance developed involving dozens of individuals, including heavy stone-throwing and fireworks launched toward the forces. In the close vicinity, heavy gunfire was heard, though its source was not identified.
“The forces fired at four individuals who posed an immediate threat to the personnel. The individuals were evacuated for medical treatment by medical teams.”
This month alone, six Palestinian minors, aged under 18, were killed by Israeli forces in the West Bank, according to a Reuters tally.
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It comes against a backdrop of increasing violence in the West Bank, despite a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza taking effect on 10 October.
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Overnight, settlers attacked communities near Nablus, setting fire to properties in Huwara and Abu Falah, residents there said.
The Israeli military said soldiers responded to reports overnight of Israeli civilians hurling rocks toward Palestinian vehicles and setting fire to property in the Huwara area.
No suspects were found during searches in the area by Israeli soldiers, the military said in a statement.
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On Tuesday, Palestinian attackers killed an Israeli man and injured three others in a car-ramming and stabbing attack in the West Bank, before being shot dead by Israeli soldiers.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the incident a terrorist attack.
It comes as UNICEF reported at least 67 children being killed in conflict-related incidents in Gaza since the ceasefire began last month.
“Dozens more have been injured. That is an average of almost two children killed every day since the ceasefire took effect,” UNICEF spokesperson Ricardo Pires told reporters in Geneva.
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US President Donald Trump’s plan began with a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas which led to Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners being handed over.
The war began following the Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, when around 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage.
Over the past two years, more than 68,000 people have been killed in Gaza as a result of Israeli military action.
