Palestinian Authority forces in occupied West Bank kill two men in 'cold blood'
Palestinian Authority (PA) forces have killed two people and injured a child in Tubas and Jenin in the occupied West Bank.
Witnesses said officers in civilian clothing shot Palestinian Rami Zahran in the head on Tuesday while he was in his car inside the Fara refugee camp near Tubas in the northern West Bank.
Those present at the time of the killing told Middle East Eye that there were no clashes ongoing at the time of Zahran's death and that he was killed extrajudicially.
The victim's family said they would not hold a funeral for their relative until those responsible for his death were brought to account.
They also called on human rights organisations for help in upholding justice and making sure that the law was implemented.
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In a statement, the Zahran family said they were holding a three-day mourning period inside the Fara camp.
'The governor and any representative of the PA security services is not welcome inside the camp.
'Our son was killed in cold blood under the pretext that he was wanted by Palestinian security forces."
An hour after the killing of Zahran, gunfire was heard directed towards the PA's headquarters in Tubas.
Shortly after the killing in Tubas, 63-year-old Faisal Sabaneh was similarly shot in the head while inside his car in an eastern neighbourhood of Jenin.
In an interview with Middle East Eye, a resistance fighter from Jenin camp in the occupied West Bank reflected on the recent raids by Palestinian Authority (PA) security forces, stating that they are 'not different at all from Israeli raids.' pic.twitter.com/Sj7SbiM5FQ — Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) December 25, 2024
A young girl nearby was wounded by shrapnel resulting from the shooting.
One witness, who wished to remain anonymous due to concerns for their safety, said PA forces in military uniform rammed Sabaneh's vehicle on al-Madaris street before exiting their cars and approaching Sabaneh.
They opened Sabaneh's car door to verify his identity and fired on him at point-blank range.
The witness said the PA forces seemed surprised that they had encountered an elderly man inside the vehicle, as opposed to someone younger, but fired on him nonetheless.
Shortly afterwards, the PA surrounded a house nearby in the same neighbourhood, deploying snipers and engaging in clashes with local Palestinian resistance fighters.
'Palestinian Authority vehicles are present in the eastern neighborhood despite the ongoing Israeli military operation and the presence of Israeli army vehicles in the area,' the witness added.
Condemnation
The Palestinian movement Hamas condemned the killings of the men and accused the PA of 'unpatriotic practices'.
It further accused the PA of 'indifference and blatant persistence in shedding Palestinian blood'.
'We call for an immediate and fair investigation into all violations and crimes committed by the Palestinian Authority's security forces in the West Bank, and for the urgent holding to account of all those involved in these crimes,' the group said in its statement.
PA's killing of resistance fighter amid army raid signals its open coordination with Israel Read More »
The killing of Palestinians by the PA is becoming increasingly frequent and coincides with an ongoing Israeli military operation in the occupied West Bank, which has mainly focused on the cities of Jenin and Tulkarm.
PA forces killed nine Palestinians in a campaign named 'Homeland Protection' in the Jenin refugee camp in December and January, including a child and a journalist.
Dozens of arrests have also been made of those the PA calls 'outlaws' - a term used for fighters wanted by Israel.
The Lawyers for Justice group has condemned the killing of Palestinian civilians by the PA.
In a statement, the group said it was astonished by the justifications offered for the shootings.
It said the deaths of 17 Palestinians at the hands of the PA since late 2023, as well as the killing of six members of the PA security forces, were evidence of the 'absence of the rule of law and the spread of chaos and insecurity'.
The killings are 'considered a persistent violation of the right to life guaranteed by all laws and human rights constitutions,' the group said, adding that those responsible for crimes must be held to account in accordance with Palestinian law.
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