Israeli aggression in the occupied West Bank has intensified since Israeli bombing of Gaza began on October 7.
Two young Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces in two separate incidents in the occupied West Bank, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.
Saturday’s incidents killed Aziz Abdulrahim Ekhlail, 20, and Salem Nasser Hajar, 25.
Ekhlail was shot in the abdomen by Israeli forces in the town of Beit Ummar, while Hajar was killed in the town of Tulkarem, the Palestinian Wafa news agency reported.
The Palestinian Health Ministry said Hajar was shot dead by Israeli forces in the Deir al-Ghusun neighborhood while accompanying his brother, who was also arrested, according to the Wafa report.
Israeli aggression in the occupied West Bank has intensified since Israeli bombing of Gaza began on October 7.
The deaths of these young men bring the total number of Palestinian casualties reported in the occupied territory since that day to 290, making it the deadliest year on record in 18 years.
The toll includes at least 65 dead children and 3,365 injured.
Israeli authorities have also stepped up arrests of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem since October 7, with more than 4,500 people arrested in the past two months, according to the Palestinian Prisoners Society.
Settler attacks on Palestinians and their properties are also increasing, leading to increased tensions in the occupied West Bank.
In the besieged Gaza Strip, at least 18,800 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed in Israeli attacks since October 7, according to the territory’s health ministry.
Israel says Hamas’ attack on Israel that day killed 1,140 people, mostly civilians.
