In Monday’s violence, the Israeli military said troops entered the Qalandiya refugee camp on the outskirts of Jerusalem to demolish the home of Muhammad Abu Shaheen, a Palestinian who the army says fatally shot an Israeli motorist in the West Bank this summer. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu repeatedly denies the allegations and vows to maintain the status quo of the holy complex. Palestinian officials say one Palestinian at the scene was taken into Israeli custody.
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Since October 1, Israeli forces have killed at least 78 Palestinians, 45 of whom Israel says were carrying out or were about to commit attacks.
“We heard that maybe an Israeli soldier was killed during the start of it, and I swear my first reaction was I wish there were 10 more of them dead”, he said.
In a bid to halt a wave of knife, gun and car-ramming attacks in recent weeks, Israeli authorities have moved to expedite demolitions of suspects’ homes, a controversial measure meant to act as a deterrent.
Since Islamic State operatives killed almost 130 people in a series of attacks across Paris on Friday, Israeli leaders have rushed to exploit the carnage to justify violence against Palestinians.
Ten years ago, Jewish visitors numbered in the hundreds, but today approximately 12,000 “ascend” yearly, as opposed to 4 million Muslims, according to the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“The time has come for countries to condemn terrorism against us to the same degree that they condemn terrorism everywhere else in the world”, Netanyahu said Sunday.
Hebron, the largest West Bank city, has been a particular flashpoint in the current round of Israeli-Palestinian violence.
Palestinian National Council member Bassam Abu Sharif also blamed Israel for the attacks in Paris.
“They gave us only 15 minutes to get out”, he added, giving his name only as Abu Shahin. The family was on their way to celebrate a pre-wedding Sabbath with their fourth daughter and her soon-to-be in-laws.
The main Palestinian political party Fatah has published cartoons insinuating that Israel was behind the terror attacks in Paris on Friday that killed 132 people, the NGO Palestinian Media Watch has reported.
“As a nation that has suffered from decades of state-sponsored terror, we call upon the worldwide community to cooperate in order to ensure that justice is served for all”, said former Palestinian peace negotiator Saeb Erekat.
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Aysh was reportedly shot in his head, shoulder, and three times in his back, while Mansara was shot in the shoulder and died from what Yaekob said was blood loss, though medics have not confirmed his cause of death. Participants were flying the flags of Fatah; of Hamas, the Islamic militant group; and the Palestinian flag.
