Palestinian teen killed, dozens injured in clashes with IDF in West Bank

Israeli soldiers have killed one teenager in clashes with Palestinian youth at the Fawwar refugee camp, West Bank, also leaving dozens wounded. The IDF used live ammunition, tear gas and rubber bullets against the locals who hurled homemade explosives at the Israelis.

The IDF said its forces were on an operation “to uncover weaponry” in the camp and to damage the so-called terror infrastructure in the area. RT correspondent Paula Slier reported that at least three battalions were involved in the operation at the refugee camp next to Hebron, southern West Bank.

Israeli forces began raiding homes and interrogating suspects at dawn on Tuesday, making a number of arrests, when dozens of Palestinian youths attacked the troops.

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“Riots erupted and dozens of Palestinians hurled [home made explosives], blocks and rocks at the forces ... [they] responded with riot dispersal means and fired 0.22 caliber bullets toward main instigators,” an army spokeswoman said.

The statement also added that the troops had found “two improvised handguns, other weapons, and ammunition.”

In the clashes that followed, the IDF troops shot and killed a teen, identified by a local hospital as Mohammed Abu Hashhash. Hebron hospital official Walid Zaloum told Reuters that the 17-year-old was killed by a bullet that entered through his back and struck above his heart.

At least 10 people were wounded by live bullets during the confrontation, humanitarian organization, Palestinian Red Crescent, said adding that further a 25 were injured by rubber bullets.

The area around Hebron which also includes Fawwar has been at the center of the IDF's attention following last month’s attack on an Israeli car by alleged Hamas gunmen, which killed one and injured three others. As part of the security operation last month, the army closed off the Fawar camp for 26 days, while making over a dozen arrests in connection with the terror attack.

In general, Hebron has been one of the centers of a wave of deadly violence between Israelis and Palestinians since last October. At least 64 Palestinians from the Hebron district have been killed since last year, according to local news wire Ma'an News Agency’s tally.

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Overall at least 207 Palestinians have been killed in the clashes with the IDF, 140 of whom according to Tel Aviv were assailants. At the same time, Palestinian attackers killed 33 Israelis and two visiting Americans.