Israeli army kills Palestinian in Nablus, 'kidnaps' three in Jericho

The Israeli army forces on Thursday, 10 August, killed a young Palestinian man during a raid campaign on the occupied West Bank city of Nablus, according to Palestinian security and medical sources. 

"Amir Khalifa, a 27-year-old Palestinian man, was killed by the Israeli army, who shot him with a bullet to his head during a raid targeting his neighbourhood of Ein Beit El Ma Camp, west of the Nablus," the Ramallah-based health ministry said in a press statement sent to The New Arab. 

Khalifa was transferred to the hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. 

Palestinian security sources and local eyewitnesses told TNA that Khalifa's killing sparked clashes between youth in the camp and Israeli military forces.

The surge in fighting is one of the worst between Israelis and Palestinians in nearly two decades. 

In July, 33 Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces, making it the deadliest month of the year so far for Palestinians. Since the beginning of the year, more than 200 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces or settlers.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, 9 August, the Israeli army forces "kidnapped" three young Palestinian men from the Aqbat Jabr refugee camp in the eastern occupied West Bank city of Jericho, according to local sources.

The sources further stated that the Israeli forces hid in civilian cars, surrounded a paper shop, and took the three young men. 

Israel claims its almost-nightly raids across the occupied West Bank are essential to dismantling armed resistance networks and thwart future attacks. 

The Palestinians see the violence as a natural response to over 70 years of ethnic cleansing and occupation, including stepped-up settlement construction by Israel's government and increased violence by Jewish settlers.