Two Palestinian teens killed by Israeli forces in Jerusalem raid

Israeli military forces have killed two Palestinian youths during a raid in the northern Jerusalem area of Kafr Aqab, where East Jerusalem borders the West Bank. The early morning operation resulted in the deaths of 18-year-old Amr Al-Marbou' and 16-year-old Sami Mashaikh, who both succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained during the Israeli military incursion.

Military Operation Details

According to Palestinian news agency Wafa, Israeli soldiers stormed Kafr Aqab before dawn on Friday, deploying foot patrols through the streets and positioning snipers on the rooftops of several buildings. The military operation culminated in Israeli forces opening fire on the two young men, who sustained critical injuries from live ammunition before being transported to a hospital by Palestinian Red Crescent Society emergency teams.

Escalating West Bank Violence

The incident occurs amid significantly heightened Israeli military operations throughout the occupied West Bank since the outbreak of the Gaza conflict in October 2023. According to documentation from Palestinian health authorities and human rights monitors, at least 1,078 Palestinians have been killed and approximately 10,700 injured in attacks by Israeli forces and settlers across the occupied territory during this period, with more than 20,500 arrests recorded.

International Legal Context

The ongoing violence unfolds against the backdrop of significant international legal developments concerning Israel's occupation. In a landmark advisory opinion issued last July, the International Court of Justice declared Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories illegal and called for the evacuation of all settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, adding legal weight to longstanding international criticism of Israel's policies in these areas.