Israeli forces kill nine Palestinians in Nablus raid

Ramallah: At least nine Palestinians have been killed and scores wounded in an Israeli army raid in the occupied West Bank city of Nablus, according to the Palestinian health ministry.
The ministry said on Wednesday that at least 102 people were injured, many of them hit by live ammunition, and listed the condition of six as serious.
According to the ministry, the nine dead were Adnan Sabe’ Baara, 72; Mohammad Khaled Anbousi, 25; Tamer Minawi, 33; Musab Owais, 26; Hossam Isleem, 24; Mohammad Abdulghani, 23; Waleed Dakheel, 23; Abdulhadi Ashqar, 61; and Mohammad Farid Shaaban, 16.
Widespread confrontations broke out soon after the army raided Nablus with dozens of armoured vehicles and special forces at 10am (08:00 GMT).
The army blocked off all entrances to the city before surrounding a home with two wanted Palestinian fighters, Hossam Isleem and Mohammad Abdulghani, who were both killed.
The Lions’ Den armed group said in a statement that it engaged in clashes with Israeli forces during the raid, alongside the recently announced Balata Brigades group.
The Israeli army said “security forces are now operating in the city of Nablus” but did not provide further details.
Palestinian political parties announced a general strike in the cities of Ramallah and Nablus on Wednesday, calling on Palestinians to go out in protest near Israeli army checkpoints.
The number of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces since the start of 2023 has now risen to 60 people, including 13 children, in the occupied territories.
Civilians confronting the Israeli army during raids and uninvolved bystanders have also been killed, as well as Palestinian fighters in targeted assassinations and during armed clashes.
Agencies