1 Palestinian killed, 9 injured during IDF counterterror raid in northern West Bank

The Palestinian Authority health ministry says one person was killed and nine injured during an Israel Defense Forces raid on the Balata refugee camp in the northern West Bank.

The IDF says that during the “counterterrorism” operation, “terrorists placed explosives in the area to harm (military) soldiers, hurled explosives, Molotov cocktails and rocks, and shot fireworks at the forces.”

“The forces fired toward the terrorists in order to remove the threat. Hits were identified,” the IDF statement says.

The PA health ministry says an 18-year-old man, Muhammad Medhat Amin Amer, “was killed by bullets from the occupation in the Balata camp,” adding that nine people were injured, “four of whom are in critical condition.”

According to the Palestinian Red Crescent, the raid began last night and triggered violent clashes.

The official Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that Israeli troops entered the camp from the Awarta checkpoint and “deployed snipers on the rooftops of surrounding buildings.”

Since October 7, 2023, troops have arrested some 6,000 wanted Palestinians across the West Bank, including more than 2,350 affiliated with Hamas.

According to the Palestinian Authority health ministry, more than 835 West Bank Palestinians have been killed in that time. The IDF says the vast majority of them were gunmen killed in exchanges of fire, rioters who clashed with troops or terrorists carrying out attacks.

During the same period, 43 people, including Israeli security personnel, have been killed in terror attacks in Israel and the West Bank. Another six members of the security forces were killed in clashes with terror operatives in the West Bank.