13-year-old Palestinian Said Killed by Israeli Troops Fire Near Bethlehem

A 13-year-old Palestinian was killed by Israeli security forces fire Monday near the Aida refugee camp some 2 kilometers north of Bethlehem, the Palestinian Health Ministry reported, the second Palestinian teen to die in clashes with Israeli forces in as many days.

According to the ministry’s announcement, Abed a-Rahman Abdallah was hit in the chest by a single bullet during clashes between Palestinians and Israeli troops, and evacuated to the operating theater in the Beit Jalla hospital in a critical condition. He died soon after from his wounds.

The IDF Spokesperson's Unit said that Israeli forces did not use live fire, and that the Palestinian reports of a fatality are under investigation.

The Palestinian factions declared a general strike on Tuesday in Bethlehem in mourning of the teen's death.

The Palestinian Red Crescent reported that 12 Palestinians were injured in clashes with the IDF Monday in the vicinity of Ramallah, including one person injured by live fire, one by a rubber bullet and the rest from inhaling tear gas. Further clashes were reported in the Jenin area and the Al-Arroub refugee camp near Hebron. Earlier, the organization reported that hundreds of Palestinians have been injured in the last day in clashes with security forces.

Meanwhile, residents of the Old City of Jerusalem said Monday that security checks have been substantially stepped up, and journalists, Old City tradesmen and residents are finding it difficult to cross the barriers that have been set up at the Old City entrances. Palestinian shop owners commenced a strike on Sunday in the Old City, and a partial strike in other parts of East Jerusalem. Schools in the city’s eastern neighborhoods are also striking.

Jerusalem violence

Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip are calling for an escalation in terror attacks in the West Bank and intend to hold a “march for Al-Aqsa” Monday night.

Hamas spokesman in Gaza Sami Abu Zuhri said that “the decision Netanyahu took against the Palestinians in Jerusalem and the West Bank will only strengthen our resolve against the occupation.”

Early Monday morning, the IDF attacked Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip, in reaction to the two rockets fired from the Strip into Israeli territory Sunday.

On Monday, Several local clashes were reported in Jerusalem. A Palestinian was arrested on suspicion of throwing stones at two women on the Hass Promenade near the East Talpiot neighborhood, lightly injuring one of them. In the Ramat Shlomo neighborhood an ultra-Orthodox man was arrested on suspicion that he threw stones at Arab cars on Route 21, and was detained for investigation. Three cars were damaged, but there were no injuries. Two Arabs were arrested at the Old City’s Lions Gate on suspicion that they tried to attack Border Policemen stationed at the site, and were detained for questioning by police.

In the commercial center in the Kiryat Hayovel neighborhood in the western part of the city, a Jewish man reported that a car containing several passengers stopped next to him, and one of them aimed a pistol at him. The police located the car driven by an Arab, who said that he had taken several Jews in the car, who were joking with the complainant and used a plastic pistol. Four suspects were detained for investigation.

Hundreds of wounded

On Sunday night, an 18-year-old Palestinian was killed during clashes with Israeli troops at a checkpoint near the West Bank city of Tulkarm on Sunday night, Palestinian media reported. NIne other Palestinians were wounded in the incident. The youth was identified as Hudhayfah Ali Suleiman, a resident of Bal'a. According to reports, after being shot he was rushed to a nearby clinic, where he was pronounced dead. The IDF said the incident is under investigation.

The Red Crescent reported early morning on Monday that over the last day 395 Palestinians were injured in clashes in the West Bank, 32 of them by live fire, 118 by rubber bullets, 234 by smoke inhalation, and 11 in confrontations with security forces.

The Palestinian news agency WAFA reported on Sunday night that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas asked UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to act toward granting the Palestinian people international protection from "Israeli aggression" and violence perpetrated by settlers in the West Bank.

According to the report, Abbas and Ban spoke on the phone on Sunday evening and discussed the unrest in Jerusalem and the West Bank. The UN chief was cited as saying that he would urge Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to take action to deescalate the situation.

The clashes broke out in the wake of two Jerusalem stabbing attacks that left two Israelis dead and three wounded on Saturday night. Early on Sunday, Israel Police decided to bar non-resident Palestinians from entering Jerusalem's Old City for 48 hours, prompting violent protests.