Two Palestinians Killed by Israeli Fire in Separate Clashes in West Bank

Two Palestinians were killed in the last 24 hours during clashes with the Israeli military in two separate incidents in the West Bank.

Ayman Mahisan, 29, was shot dead by Israeli forces on Thursday during clashes at the Dheisheh refugee camp near Bethlehem, the Palestinian Health Ministry reported.

Late Wednesday, another Palestinian was killed by Israeli fire during clashes at the village of Ya'bad, where Israeli forces were executing a demolition order against the home of a Palestinian who murdered five people in the Tel Aviv suburb of Bnei Brak in March.

The Palestinian was identified as Bilal Awad Qabha. He was killed by live fire in Ya'bad, and another Palestinian was critically wounded, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. A third person was wounded in moderate condition, the Red Crescent reported.

Qabha was taken to hospital in Jenin, where he was pronounced dead.

The Israeli military said forces carried out the demolition order against the house of Diaa Hamarsheh, during which "violent riots broke out and hundreds of rioters threw stones, set fire to tires and threw Molotov cocktails and explosives at Israeli forces."

The army said it used riot dispersal measures and fired at Palestinians who they said opened fire at them. There were no casualties among Israeli forces, the army said, adding that they arrested Hamarsheh's father during the operation.

During the operation, the Israeli forces arrested 9 individuals, suspected of "involvement in terrorist activities," the army said.

Diaa Hamarsheh, who was shot dead during his shooting spree in Bnei Brak, had previously served two and a half years in prison in Israel after offering to carry out a suicide attack for Islamic Jihad.

A wave of terror attacks hit Israel in March, April, and early May, leaving a total of 19 people killed. Since then, the Israeli military has conducted almost daily counter-terrorist operations in the West Bank.

The military operations, which have focused largely on Jenin and nearby villages, have left over 30 Palestinians killed, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

Some were gunmen killed in fighting with Israel, while others were shot while allegedly throwing stones or firebombs at Israeli troops in the West Bank.