Palestinian teen dies of wounds sustained in clashes with IDF last month

A Palestinian teenager critically hurt in clashes with Israeli troops last month succumbed to his wounds on Thursday morning, Palestinian health officials said.

According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, 16-year-old Muhammad Fadi Nori was shot in the abdomen at the entrance of the town of al-Bireh in the evening hours of September 28.

Another man, 26, was also hurt in the clashes, the ministry reported at the time.

The Israel Defense Forces told The Times of Israel that troops had used riot dispersal means, including the firing of a Ruger rifle, against Palestinians hurling Molotov cocktails and stones, as well as setting fire to trash bins.

The .22-caliber round from a Ruger rifle is considered less lethal than the larger caliber rounds typically used by the military. Human rights groups have condemned the use of the rifle for riot control, as it can still kill.

The military said it was aware of Nori’s death and was investigating the matter.

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Tensions in the West Bank have heightened as the IDF launched major arrest operations after a series of Palestinian attacks that killed 19 people earlier this year. Another Israeli woman was killed in a suspected attack last month, and four soldiers have been killed in the West Bank in attacks and during the arrest operations.

Seven wanted Palestinians were detained in overnight arrest raids across the West Bank, the IDF said Thursday morning.

The IDF said Palestinian gunmen also opened fire at a military post near Nablus overnight.

“IDF forces responded by returning fire at the source of the shooting and began scanning the area. There were no casualties,” the military said.

An armed Palestinian faction calling itself the Lion’s Den claimed responsibility for the shooting in a statement.

Israel imposed a closure on Nablus last week, not long after an Israeli soldier was killed in a shooting attack claimed by the group.

Some routes have been left open, through which Palestinians may enter and leave Nablus following “a strict security check.”

Read more: Armed upstart Lion’s Den challenges IDF bid to crack down on Nablus terror

Palestinian gunmen have repeatedly targeted military posts, troops operating along the West Bank security barrier, Israeli settlements and civilians on the roads in recent months.

The anti-terror offensive launched earlier this year has netted more than 2,000 arrests during the near-nightly raids in Palestinian cities, towns, and villages.

It has also left 123 Palestinians dead, many of them while carrying out attacks or during clashes with security forces.