In separate incidents, Israeli forces have killed two Palestinians, one in the West Bank and one in Jerusalem. The shooting of the medical student at the Al-Aqsa compound in Jerusalem provoked outrage from Palestinian worshippers, who disputed the police account of events. Meanwhile, the killing of the Palestinian in the West Bank came when an Israeli soldier shot him dead, after he reportedly rammed his car into a group of soldiers. The two incidents come amid a backdrop of simmering tensions in Jerusalem and the West Bank, with Israeli forces having killed at least 92 Palestinians since the start of the year, according to the Ministry of Health.
The incidents also occurred during a time of high Muslim attendance for the holy month of Ramadan at the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex, the third holiest site in Islam. The compound is also the most sacred site in Judaism, and friction there has set off violence in recent years, including an 11-day Israeli assault on Gaza that killed more than 200 Palestinians in 2021. As a result of the killings, the umbrella organisation representing Israel’s Palestinian citizens announced a “general strike and day of mourning” on Sunday following the “execution” of the medical student.
The killing of Palestinians by Israeli forces remains a controversial issue, with many Palestinians accusing the Israeli government of using excessive force, and the international community urging restraint on both sides. With tensions continuing to simmer in the West Bank and Jerusalem, many are concerned that further violence could erupt in the coming days and weeks.
Source: Aljazeera
