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JERUSALEM – Israeli forces killed three Palestinians, including a minor, and wounded at least 29 others during a massive gunbattle with gunmen in the streets of Jenin in the occupied West Bank on Monday. Palestinian officials said.
The fighting included the rare use of Israeli attack helicopters in the area.
This escalation is the latest in more than a year of near daily violence that has gripped the West Bank.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health identified the dead as Khaled Assasa, 21 years old. Qassam Abu Sariya29 and 15 years old Ahmed SaqrHe said at least six others were seriously wounded in the crossfire.
The Israeli military said troops came under fire during an arrest raid in Jenin and opened fire on armed Palestinians. Israeli media reported that several Israeli soldiers were wounded in the fighting.
The army stated that “with the security forces leaving the city, a military vehicle was hit by an explosive device and damage to cars,” adding that helicopters “opened fire towards the gunmen to help remove the forces.”
Unconfirmed video footage taken by amateurs from Jenin appeared to show an explosion targeting an Israeli armored vehicle. Another video posted online shows an Israeli military helicopter firing a missile during the ongoing army operation.
The Israeli army rarely uses aircraft in its operations in the occupied West Bank. Israeli media reported that it was the first use of an attack helicopter in the area since the Palestinian uprising in the early 2000s.
Months of violence have plagued both Israel and the Palestinians, mainly in the West Bank, where some 120 Palestinians have been killed this year. Jenin was a hotbed of Palestinian militancy.
Israel launched near-night raids in the West Bank in response to the upsurge in Palestinian violence early last year. Palestinian attacks against Israelis escalated during that period.
Israel says most of the dead were activists, but stone-throwing youths protested against the incursions and the killing of others who did not participate in the confrontations.
Palestinian attacks against Israelis have killed at least 20 people this year.
The fighting included the rare use of Israeli attack helicopters in the area.
This escalation is the latest in more than a year of near daily violence that has gripped the West Bank.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health identified the dead as Khaled Assasa, 21 years old. Qassam Abu Sariya29 and 15 years old Ahmed SaqrHe said at least six others were seriously wounded in the crossfire.
The Israeli military said troops came under fire during an arrest raid in Jenin and opened fire on armed Palestinians. Israeli media reported that several Israeli soldiers were wounded in the fighting.
The army stated that “with the security forces leaving the city, a military vehicle was hit by an explosive device and damage to cars,” adding that helicopters “opened fire towards the gunmen to help remove the forces.”
Unconfirmed video footage taken by amateurs from Jenin appeared to show an explosion targeting an Israeli armored vehicle. Another video posted online shows an Israeli military helicopter firing a missile during the ongoing army operation.
The Israeli army rarely uses aircraft in its operations in the occupied West Bank. Israeli media reported that it was the first use of an attack helicopter in the area since the Palestinian uprising in the early 2000s.
Months of violence have plagued both Israel and the Palestinians, mainly in the West Bank, where some 120 Palestinians have been killed this year. Jenin was a hotbed of Palestinian militancy.
Israel launched near-night raids in the West Bank in response to the upsurge in Palestinian violence early last year. Palestinian attacks against Israelis escalated during that period.
Israel says most of the dead were activists, but stone-throwing youths protested against the incursions and the killing of others who did not participate in the confrontations.
Palestinian attacks against Israelis have killed at least 20 people this year.
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