Israeli forces stormed Aqaba and destroyed a constructing after besieging it however didn’t arrest a needed Palestinian.
A Palestinian man has been shot and killed by Israeli forces throughout a raid in an occupied West Financial institution city following a confrontation that resulted in a constructing being destroyed.
Abdul Rahim Fayez Ghannam, 36, was shot within the head in Aqaba, north of Tubas, and pronounced lifeless on the native hospital on Friday.
Nidal Odeh, director of emergency companies in Aqaba, advised native media that Israeli forces prevented ambulances from reaching the wounded, and one ambulance was straight focused by reside ammunition.
Israeli forces raided the city in search of Ahmad Walid, who they accused of finishing up a taking pictures assault close to a checkpoint within the Jordan Valley final month.
Witness Saleh Abu Arra advised Al Jazeera the Israeli troopers thought Walid was hiding in one of many buildings however he was not there.
“The raid began at about 5am. My two brothers reside with their households within the constructing that was surrounded by Israeli forces,” the 39-year outdated stated.
One in every of his brothers, Bakr Abu Arra, was apprehended by the Israelis.
“They yelled at him on loudspeakers to return out along with his household, and proceeded to beat him with their weapons and curse at him, terrifying his spouse and youngsters,” Saleh Abu Arra stated.
After half an hour, Israeli forces began firing sound bombs and tear fuel canisters on the constructing, then focused the second and third flooring with antitank grenades, which additionally destroyed an adjoining wedding ceremony corridor.
Violent confrontations ensued for the following 5 hours, one other witness Amir al-Qasem stated, with Israeli troopers firing on the ruined constructing with reside ammunition, and Palestinian residents throwing objects at army automobiles.
Armed Palestinian males additionally focused the Israeli convoy with reside hearth.
“The martyr Fayez was caught within the crossfire,” al-Qasem stated. “He’s a farmer and was on his technique to his fields.”
Al-Qasem stated the Israelis failed of their mission to arrest Walid, after which started firing randomly on the destroyed home and surrounding areas.
“I’ve by no means seen such an enormous quantity of bullet casings contained in the constructing,” he stated.
Israeli forces arrested the 2 brothers Bakr and Mohammed Abu Arra and their father Abdelrazeq.
Ahmad Walid’s brother Mushrif advised Al Jazeera he have been shocked when Israeli intelligence referred to as him on the telephone.
“My brother is a labour employee inside Israel, and he goes away for 2 weeks to a month at a time,” Mushrif stated.
“We advised the Israelis that he isn’t right here, however they compelled my aged dad and mom exterior and took them to the Abu Arra constructing and made them name for Ahmad to give up himself on the loudspeakers.”
In a press release, the Israeli military stated a firefight broke out between armed fighters and troopers and “successful was recognized on one of many gunmen”.
Troops additionally “used shoulder-fired missiles and grenades” and subsequently discovered improvised explosive gadgets and different weapons within the constructing, it stated.
The near-daily Israeli army raids have resulted in a number of the worst combating within the occupied West Financial institution because the early 2000s.
Greater than 200 Palestinians have been killed by Israel because the begin of this yr, with the United Nations saying 2023 is the deadliest yr for Palestinians because the world physique started recording Palestinian fatalities in 2006.
Further reporting by Ayman Nobani in Aqaba, occupied West Financial institution.
