UN: 2023 West Bank's bloodiest year in 15 years

2023-11-01 21:26:12, Kosova & Bota CNA

With daily attacks by Israeli forces in recent weeks on Palestinian towns targeting Hamas leaders and the arrest of people associated with the group, violence has also escalated in the West Bank. Since October 7, more than 120 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and Jewish settlers. Most of those killed were members of armed groups operating in the West Bank. However, the data published by the UN show that close to 30 percent of the victims were children.

In the refugee camp in Jenin, a city located in the West Bank, children play with plastic toys that resemble weapons in the area where Israeli forces killed two fighters of the Islamic Jihad group a few hours ago.

Some of the children claim to be firing guns into the air to honor their fallen comrades.

"I am not afraid, I only fear God."

Jubar, a 12-year-old child has many plans for the future. He says he wants to study, become a footballer and a fighter. He carries a plastic rifle with a picture of a friend killed during a confrontation with Israeli forces.

"He was here and they were there. Then shots rang out and he died."

Aysar Al-Amer, a local commander of the Islamic Jihad militant group was killed that morning. Hundreds of people attended his funeral in Jenin. This is becoming increasingly common in the West Bank, where tensions are rising.

According to UN data, this is the deadliest year in 15 years in the West Bank. More than 120 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since the October 7 attack by Hamas on Israel, in which 1,400 Israelis were killed. This attack triggered the war between Israel and Hamas.

Most Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces during operations in refugee camps to arrest people suspected of links to Hamas.

The number of Palestinians killed by attacks by Jewish settlers in the West Bank has also increased.

According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, in the village of Nablus, at least five Palestinians have been killed by Jewish settlers in the past two weeks.

"I was sleeping when I heard a loudspeaker announcement from the mosque about an attack and the need to help people. I rushed to the scene and saw my cousin lying on the ground. I took him to the hospital by car and when I turned to help others, a bullet hit me in the back," says Murat Obeh, a resident of Nablus.

Every day new notices with the names of Palestinian victims are posted on electricity poles and walls of houses in Palestinian cities. Considering the escalation of tensions, many residents here believe that war is approaching again in the West Bank./ VOA