Palestinian Killed and Four Israeli Soldiers Wounded in West Bank Clashes
A Palestinian was killed and four Israeli soldiers were injured in clashes that erupted at the Nur Shams refugee camp in the city of Tulkarm in the West Bank, an Israeli military spokesperson announced today (Friday).
The confrontation took place between the Israeli army and a local resistance force, leading to the casualties among the soldiers and the death of the young Palestinian man.
Eyewitnesses reported that the Palestinian, identified as 30-year-old Saleem Faisal Abdullatif Ghanam, lost his life due to gunfire from Israeli forces in the Damj neighborhood of the camp. They also noted that two others were wounded during the incident. According to the witnesses, the forces of occupation are preventing ambulances from reaching the deceased or the injured, with the victim's body still inside the camp. They highlighted that Saleem is the brother of Amer and Ahmad Ghanam, who were killed in a significant Israeli military assault on the camp on October 19, 2023.
On the other hand, the military spokesperson stated that four Israeli soldiers were wounded during an exchange of fire with Palestinian militants in the Nur Shams camp. The army has continued for the second day to invade a number of houses and conduct arrests. According to Israeli army radio, "two soldiers suffered minor injuries due to fragments during the exchange of fire with gunmen during an operation in the Nur Shams refugee camp."
The Israeli army commenced a "wide-scale military operation" at the Nur Shams refugee camp on Thursday evening. Details regarding the objectives or duration of the operation were not disclosed. The operation has caused widespread destruction to the camp's infrastructure and civilian properties, including main streets, alleys, water and sewerage systems, and the walls of houses, shops, and commercial establishments.
In Jerusalem, tens of thousands of citizens performed Friday prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque. The Islamic Waqf Department in Jerusalem estimated the number of worshippers at around 50,000. Israeli forces imposed stringent military measures at the gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque and the entrances to the Old City of Jerusalem, hindering the access of hundreds of worshippers.