TEHRAN, Jan. 12 (MNA) – Israeli forces have shot and killed a Palestinian man in Qalandiya refugee camp, north of al-Quds, as tensions continue to rise in the occupied territories, media have reported.

The Press TV has cited eyewitnesses as reporting on Thursday that the 41-year-old Palestinian man, identified as Samir Ouni Harbi Aslan, was killed while trying to stop Israeli forces from arresting his son at Qalandiya early Thursday.

The incident came a day after Israeli forces killed two Palestinian youths across the occupied West Bank.

During a Wednesday morning raid by the Israeli forces on Balata refugee camp in the city of Nablus in the northern West Bank, Ahmad Abu Junaid, 21, was shot in the head and critically wounded, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. 

Junaid was taken to Rafidia hospital for treatment but succumbed to his head wound in the afternoon.

Elsewhere in the West Bank, an Israeli settler fatally shot a 19-year-old Palestinian man near the city of al-Khalil, also known as Hebron. Sanad Mohammad Samasra was killed in an alleged stabbing attack.

Israeli forces launch raids on various cities of the occupied West Bank almost on a daily basis under the pretext of detaining what it calls “wanted” Palestinians. The raids usually lead to violent confrontations with residents.

Over the past months, Israel has ramped up attacks on Palestinian towns and cities throughout the occupied territories. As a result of these attacks, dozens of Palestinians have lost their lives and many others have been arrested.

Israeli forces kill Palestinian teenager in West Bank as far-right Israeli minister storms al-Aqsa.

Since the start of 2022, Israeli troops have killed more than 210 Palestinians, including more than 50 children, in the occupied West Bank and East al-Quds as well as the besieged Gaza Strip.

According to the United Nations, the number of Palestinians killed by Israel in the occupied West Bank in 2022 was the highest in 16 years.

Local and international rights groups have condemned Israel’s excessive use of force and “shoot-to-kill policy” against Palestinians.

Reacting to fresh Israeli crimes, Palestinian resistance movement Hamas said in a Wednesday statement that Palestinian people will continue to defend themselves and the Al-Aqsa Mosque until the end of the occupation and liberation of holy sites.

MNA/PR