A Teenager Dies In Clashes Between Israeli Soldiers And Palestinian Islamic Jihad In Jenin City

Injured rescue workers are carried during clashes between Israeli and Palestinian security forces during the funeral of Waleed Al Shareef outside Jerusalem, Monday 16 May 2022. (Antara/Reuters/Ammar Awad)

JAKARTA - Israeli troops shot dead a 17-year-old Palestinian teenager during clashes in the city of Jenin in the occupied West Bank on Saturday, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group said.

The Israeli military said Palestinian suspects opened fire on their soldiers and pelted them with Molotov cocktails.

"The army responded by shooting directly at the suspects. The shots were identified," the military said as reported by Antara.

It is not clear whether the teenager who died was part of the suspects. The Palestinian Ministry of Health confirmed his death.

The Palestinian Islamic Jihad group described the teenager as one of its members. According to the group, the teenager took part in the battle against the Israeli army.

Photos circulating on social media show him holding a gun.

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh condemned the killing.

"We warn of the consequences of the occupation's continued crimes against our people. We urge the world to condemn them and bring the perpetrators to justice," the PM said in a statement.

Israel has intensified its attacks in the Jenin area since late March following a series of deadly attacks in the city, some of which were carried out by Palestinians from Jenin, which it regards as a militia stronghold.

The Palestinian Authority (PA) frequently condemns Israeli raids on Palestinian towns and villages.

Israeli operations often trigger clashes. At least 46 Palestinians, about 11 of them in Jenin, have died at the hands of Israeli forces or armed civilians since the start of the year. The victims included armed members of the militia group, lone attackers and passers-by.

On May 11, the Palestinian-American journalist working for the Qatar-based Al Jazeera TV station, Shireen Abu Akleh, was shot dead in Jenin during an Israeli raid, in an event that captured worldwide attention.

An Israeli soldier was killed in clashes at the same location two days later.

Palestinians accuse Israel of killing Abu Akleh and call for an international response.

denied targeting the veteran, saying he may have been accidentally shot by Palestinian soldiers or gunmen during the exchange of fire.