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Scenea: including injured man & jeeps. Published by IMEMC News

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by IMEMC News
Feb 22, 2023

After a Palestinian man, 66, died from the severe effects of tear gas inhalation, the Palestinian Health Ministry has confirmed that the Israeli soldiers have killed eleven Palestinians and injured more than 102 during the Wednesday Israeli offensive on Nablus, in the northern part of the occupied West Bank.

The Health Ministry said Anan Shawkat Ennab, 66, was rushed to a hospital in Nablus, suffering the severe effects of tear gas inhalation and succumbed to his wounds despite all efforts to revive him.

It confirmed that the number of Palestinians killed by Israeli soldiers during the Israeli offensive on Nablus, Wednesday, is eleven and added that the number of wounded Palestinians is 102, including six who suffered very serious wounds.

One of the slain Palestinians, Abdul-Hadi Al-Ashqar, 61, was sent to the Najah National University where his son, Elias, who works as a nurse at the Emergency Unit, was shocked to see his father there, and despite all efforts, the father died in his arms.

The soldiers also killed and injured many Palestinians while trying to seek shelter from their gunfire.

The slain Palestinians, as officially confirmed by the Palestinian Health Ministry, are:

Anan Shawkat Ennab, 66.
Adnan Sabe’ Ba’ara, 72.
Mohammad Khaled Anbousi, 25.
Tamer Nimir Ahmad Minawi, 33.
Mos’ab Monir Mohammad Oweiss, 26.
Husam Bassam Isleem, 24.
Mohammad Abu Kabr Al-Juneidi, 23.
Walid Riyad Hussein Dakheel, 23.
Abdul-Hadi Abdul-Aziz Ashqar, 61.
Mohammad Farid Sha’ban, 16.
Jasser Jamil Abdul-Wahab Qaneer, 23.

Palestinians who the soldiers shot with live fire: 102, six seriously:
– 47 Palestinians, including three who suffered life-threatening wounds, were rushed to Rafidia governmental hospital.
– 20 Palestinians, including one who suffered life-threatening wounds to the back and abdomen, were rushed to Nablus Speciality Hospital.

– 15 Palestinians, including three who suffered life-threatening wounds, were rushed to the Najah Hospital.

– 9 Palestinians were shot with live fire and were rushed to the Women’s Union Hospital.

– 11 Palestinians were shot with live fire and were rushed to the Arab Specialty Hospital.

– More than 250 Palestinians suffered the effects of tear gas inhalation, and other minor wounds.

The Israeli army said two of its soldiers were injured during exchanges of fire with Palestinian fighters in Nablus.

Update 3: The Palestinian Health Ministry has confirmed that Israeli soldiers killed Ten Palestinians, including a child, and shot one hundred and two with live fire, including six who suffered life-threatening wounds, during the invasion of Nablus city. Three journalists are among the wounded Palestinians.

The Health Ministry also said six wounded Palestinians, including one who suffered serious gunshot wounds to the back and the abdomen, were rushed to Nablus Speciality Hospital, seven, including a serious injury, to the Najah Hospital, and three to the Women’s Union Hospital.

The soldiers were opening fire at the Palestinians from small openings in their heavily armored jeeps that barely fit the barrel of the automatic rifles.

Media sources said the soldiers surrounded a home in the Sheikh Mosallam neighborhood to abduct several Palestinians, leading to protests, and exchanges of fire between the army and Palestinian resistance fighters in the Old City and surrounding areas.

The soldiers fired a barrage of live ammunition, gas bombs, and concussion grenades at the Palestinians protesting the invasion and also targeted journalists and medics with live fire.

Medical sources said the soldiers killed two Palestinians and shot fifty with live fire, including an elderly man and six young men who suffered life-threatening wounds, and a cameraman working for Palestine TV, and at least 250 suffered the effects of tear gas inhalation. Also among the wounded are three journalists who were shot with live fire.

The wounded journalists are Omar Istaitiyah, who suffered a bullet fragment wound to the ear, Mohammad Khatib, who was shot in the arm, and Ahmad Khalaf, who suffered the severe effects of tear gas inhalation.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) said the soldiers are still encircling the home and surrounding area and denying its medics to reach it or the areas of protests.

The PRCS added that more than 250 Palestinians suffered the effects of tear gas inhalation.

Israeli sources said the soldiers and undercover officers invaded Nablus to abduct a “wanted Palestinian” and added that he was shot while fleeing the area in his car.

The Health Ministry identified the slain Palestinians as:

Adnan Sabe’ Ba’ara, 72.
Mohammad Khaled Anbousi, 25.
Tamer Nimir Ahmad Minawi, 33.
Mos’ab Monir Mohammad Oweiss, 26.
Husam Bassam Isleem, 24.
Mohammad Abu Kabr Al-Joneidi, 23.
Walid Yiyad Hussein Dakheel, 23.
Abdul-Hadi Abdul-Aziz Ashqar, 61.
Mohammad Farid Sha’ban, 16.
Jasser Jamil Abdul-Wahab Qaneer, 23.

Palestinians who the soldiers shot with live fire: 102, six seriously:
– 47 Palestinians, including three who suffered life-threatening wounds, were rushed to Rafidia governmental hospital.
– 20 Palestinians, including one who suffered life-threatening wounds to the back and abdomen, were rushed to Nablus Speciality Hospital.

– 15Palestinians, including three who suffered life-threatening wounds, were rushed to the Najah Hospital.

– 9 Palestinians were shot with live fire and were rushed to the Women’s Union Hospital.

– 11 Palestinians were shot with live fire and were rushed to the Arab Specialty Hospital.

– More than 250 Palestinians suffered the effects of tear gas inhalation, and other minor wounds.

– The soldiers damaged and destroyed many Palestinian cars, homes, and structures.

UPDATE: Feb 22, 2023, at 14:54

On Wednesday, several armored Israeli military vehicles invaded the Old City of Nablus, Palestinians in the northern part of the occupied West Bank, killed three Palestinians, including an elder, shot more than fifty, including three journalists, and seven Palestinians who suffered serious wounds, and caused 250 to suffer the effects of tear gas inhalation.

Update 1: Feb 22, 2023, at 13:27: The Palestinian Health Ministry has confirmed that the soldiers killed Adnan Sabe’ Ba’ara, 72, Mohammad Khaled Anbousi, 25, and Tamer Nimir Minawi, 33, after shooting them with live fire.

The slain elderly man was heading to a nearby bakery to buy bread when the soldiers killed him.

The Health Ministry also said six wounded Palestinians, including one who suffered serious gunshot wounds to the back and the abdomen, were rushed to Nablus Speciality Hospital, seven, including a serious injury, to the Najah Hospital, and three to the Women’s Union Hospital.

The soldiers were opening fire at the Palestinians from small openings in their heavily armored jeeps that barely fit the barrel of the automatic rifles.

Media sources said the soldiers surrounded a home in the Sheikh Mosallam neighborhood to abduct several Palestinians, leading to protests, and exchanges of fire between the army and Palestinian resistance fighters in the Old City and surrounding areas.

The soldiers fired a barrage of live ammunition, gas bombs, and concussion grenades at the Palestinians protesting the invasion and also targeted journalists and medics with live fire.

Medical sources said the soldiers killed two Palestinians and shot fifty with live fire, including an elderly man and six young men who suffered life-threatening wounds, and a cameraman working for Palestine TV, and at least 250 suffered the effects of tear gas inhalation. Also among the wounded are three journalists who were shot with live fire.

The wounded journalists are Omar Istaitiyah, who suffered a bullet fragment wound to the ear, Mohammad Khatib, who was shot in the arm, and Ahmad Khalaf, who suffered the severe effects of tear gas inhalation.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) said the soldiers are still encircling the home and surrounding area and denying its medics to reach it or the areas of protests.

The PRCS added that more than 250 Palestinians suffered the effects of tear gas inhalation.

Israeli sources said the soldiers and undercover officers invaded Nablus to abduct a “wanted Palestinian” and added that he was shot while fleeing the area in his car.

All hospitals in Nablus are on high alert due to the ongoing offensive and the increasing number of injuries, especially since almost all wounded Palestinians were shot with live fire, including expanding bullets, to the upper body. As a result, hospitals are calling on the Palestinians to donate blood to the seriously wounded.

The exact number of injuries and potential fatalities remains unknown due to the ongoing Israeli offensive, which started in the morning.

At the time of this report, the soldiers were still firing live rounds at Palestinian ambulances and medics while military drones were firing gas bombs in various directions.

First Published on: Feb 22, 2023, at 12:48
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Analysis: West Bank Raid Deadly Outcome Was Inevitable. But Was the Op Necessary?

Just three days after Netanyahu's agreement with the U.S. to reduce IDF incursions into territory controlled by the Palestinian Authority, Israeli forces were sent in broad daylight into Nablus ■ How urgent and necessary was this operation, which risks sparking revenge attacks and rockets from Gaza?

by Amos Harel for Haaretz
Feb 22, 2023

The decision of the IDF Central Command and Judea and Samaria Division to send a large force into Nablus in daylight to stop three armed Palestinian fugitives raises serious questions. The incident ended with the killing of 10 Palestinians, including two adults who seemed to have nothing to do with the wanted Palestinians. It could now trigger revenge terror attacks from the West Bank and rocket fire from the Gaza Strip.

About a month ago a similar entry into a Jenin refugee camp ended in the killing of 10 armed Palestinians. The army hinted that the fugitives had been a “ticking bomb,” a term whose use even at the time seemed a stretch. This time, the joint IDF-Shin Bet statement said the suspects were “involved in carrying out shooting attacks in the West Bank and in planning other shooting attacks in the immediate future.” As usual, no details or evidence were attached to the statement.

The incidents repeat themselves and the similar operations, in daylight and in the heart of areas that the Palestinian Authority lost control of long ago, end with massive killing of Palestinians. All this was known in advance. Jenin and Nablus are rife with automatic weapons. When a large Israeli force enters the urban area and starts making arrests, it takes into account that the fugitives will resist arrest forcibly and that dozens of other militants will throng to the spot to clash with the Israeli troops and try to attack them while they’re leaving the area. Under heavy fire, the soldiers and Shin Bet and commandos have no choice but to fire back to protect themselves and get out alive.

When the area is densely built up and militants fire from rooftops, street corners and narrow alleys, citizens are also likely to be hurt.

This raises anew the question of what was so urgent and necessary about Wednesday morning’s operation, which was approved by the most senior ranks. If the militants are hiding in Nablus, and there’s intelligence on where they are, isn’t it possible to surround the area and contain it, maybe in advance of a nighttime incursion, which is seen as slightly less dangerous?

The questions increase when the big picture is taken into account. And this doesn’t only mean the legislation to overturn the judicial system along with the high tension in the occupied territories, amid an especially long spate of terror attacks and ahead of the escalation anticipated by intelligence agencies at the beginning of Ramadan in a month. It’s worth remembering that at the start of last week, in response to the murder of 10 civilians in attacks in Jerusalem, the cabinet approved the legalizing of nine illegal outposts in the West Bank and the advancement of unusually large-scale construction – 7,072 housing units – in existing settlements. This decision, with which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tried to ward off demands from the government’s extreme right for collective punishment of Palestinians in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, caused tension with the Americans. In response, the Palestinian Authority put forward a proposal to denounce the cabinet’s decision in the UN Security Council, and the Biden administration considered breaching the United States’ policy by not vetoing it.

At Netanyahu’s instruction and with great effort, a compromise was reached with the United States and the Palestinian Authority. The government was forced to pledge not to legalize any more illegal outposts in the coming months, nor to authorize additional settlement construction. But there was an additional understanding, which deliberately remained somewhat vague. It was decided to reduce IDF incursions into the Palestinian Authority’s Area A in the West Bank, while the PA would deploy its security forces in Nablus and Jenin. These agreements were reached on Sunday, three days before the extensive army operation in Nablus.

The three fugitives whom the force meant to arrest, but who were killed when they continued fighting, were members of the local Nablus casbah group, the Lion's Den. One of them was suspected of being involved in killing Givati soldier Ido Baruch near the Shavei Shomron settlement in October of last year. Two weeks afterward a few of the group’s leaders were killed and many of its members arrested in an Israeli operation in Nablus. But rumors of the death of the Lion's Den turned out to be premature. The group’s next generation is still acting, albeit on a back burner.

The profuse killing in Nablus is expected, as usual, to lead to revenge attempts by young Palestinians who see the dead as national heroes. A response from Gaza by rocket fire is also possible. The defense establishment continues to believe that Hamas in Gaza has no interest in uncontrolled escalation now. Hamas continues to enjoy the economic improvement brought by 17,000 workers from the Strip who are allowed to work in Israel. On Thursday the monthly financial grant from Qatar is also expected. Yet something is bound to happen. Rocket fire, perhaps by smaller factions from the Gaza Strip, is seen as likely. Israel continues to warn of the escalation over Ramadan, but it seems some of the steps it is taking contribute more to a confrontation than to its prevention.