Israeli forces have conducted a raid on Balata refugee camp in Nablus, in the occupied West Bank, leading to the killing of a Palestinian man and the injury of several others, according to Palestinian officials.
Reports indicate that Israeli forces entered the refugee camp and surrounded the house of a wanted fighter, sparking armed confrontations with Palestinians.
The Palestinian health ministry identified the deceased as Faris Abdul Munim Hashash, 19, who was shot by Israeli forces during the clashes. Hashash sustained gunshot wounds to the chest, abdomen, and lower limbs. According to the Palestinian news agency WAFA, he was taken to Rafidia Surgical Hospital in Nablus, where he was later pronounced dead..
The Palestine Red Crescent Society stated that eight other Palestinians were treated for gunshot wounds, with one individual sustaining a head injury.
Following the raid, Husam Sallaj, the uncle of the wanted man, Issam Sallaj, reported that the military had bombed the house, causing damage. Although his nephew was wounded, he was not captured.
According to Suhaib Sullaj, the brother of the wanted man, an Israeli commander contacted them, demanding Issam’s surrender. The commander allegedly threatened to bomb the house and harm the entire family if they did not comply.
The family’s residence was partially destroyed during the raid, with photographs showing overturned furnishings and scattered belongings, including children’s toys. Additionally, a car parked nearby was reportedly set on fire.
Hamas, the governing authority in Gaza, expressed mourning for the 19-year-old Palestinian but did not claim him as a member. The group issued a statement condemning the “occupation’s crimes” and affirming the continuation of resistance across the homeland.
As of now, the Israeli army has not provided a comment on the Balata raid.
In a separate incident on the same day, four Israeli soldiers were lightly wounded in a drive-by shooting near the city of Jenin, according to the Israeli army. The soldiers were fired upon from a vehicle near the Reihan crossing. Israeli forces responded by firing at the suspects’ vehicle, which fled the scene. The area is currently being searched, and routes have been blocked. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack at this time.
