Palestinian driver shot dead in alleged car-ramming attempt in West Bank

The death of Fawzi Hani, 18, comes hours after another fatal shooting by Israeli forces

The bullet-ridden car in which a Palestinian was shot dead by Israeli forces in the West Bank on Friday. AFP

Israeli forces shot dead a Palestinian driver in the West Bank, Palestinian officials said on Saturday, in what the army described as a car-ramming attempt.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health identified the young man, who was killed near Nablus, as Fawzi Hani, 18.

He was the second Palestinian to be killed by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank within hours in an continuing surge of violence that has gripped the region.

The Israeli army said the shooting happened after two Palestinian men tried to drive a car into soldiers at Sebastia around midnight on Friday.

The claim could not be verified. Soldiers opened fire, killing the driver and wounding the other.

Palestinian media quoted the victims’ family as saying the two did not target soldiers and were instead ambushed and their car was riddled with bullets.

Local media reported that Hani had just passed his high school exams and was in good spirits before the shooting.

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  Palestinians argue with Israeli settlers a day after a shooting attack and violence in the West Bank town of Hawara. EPA

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  Smoke is seen during a confrontation between Israeli settlers and Palestinians in the West Bank town of Hawara. Reuters

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  An aerial view shows a building and cars torched in Hawara. Reuters

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  A Palestinian man walks past burnt cars in a scrapyard in Hawara. AP

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  An Israeli soldiers speak to a Palestinianians near in the West Bank town of Hawara. Reuters

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  Israeli soldier holds back a settler during confrontations at the scene of a shooting attack in the West Bank town of Hawara. EPA

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  A Palestinian man uses a stick to remove burnt tyres left in in front of his house as Israeli soldiers stand guard. EPA

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  Israeli troops patrol as tensions escalate in the West Bank town of Hawara. EPA

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  Israeli security forces examine a vehicle riddled with bullet holes following a reported shooting attack near Jericho, in the occupied West Bank. AFP

One person was shot dead by Israeli forces in Nablus before dawn on Thursday, the Palestinian Health Ministry said.

The shootings came as Palestinian fighters confronted Israeli soldiers and settlers in the area.

The spiral of violence, which shows no signs of abating, is one of the worst between Israelis and Palestinians in years.

More than 150 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since the start of 2023 in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, according to a tally by AP.

Violence between Israel and the Palestinians in the West Bank intensified early last year when Israel expanded near-nightly raids into Palestinian areas in response to a spate of Palestinian attacks against Israelis.

Last month, the government introduced new legislation to accelerate Israeli settlement construction.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir also visited Al Aqsa compound in East Jerusalem, angering both the Palestinians and Jordan, which oversees holy sites in the city.

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  Palestinian men check a house that was demolished during an Israeli army raid in the Old City of Nablus the previous day. AFP

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  A bullet-riddled windshield outside a house that was targeted in the raid. AFP

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  Shuttered shops in Gaza city during a general strike called to protest against the Israeli army raid in Nablus the previous day. AFP

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  A Palestinian house that was demolished in the Israeli army raid

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  Smoke rises above buildings in Gaza city as Israel launches air strikes on the Palestinian enclave. AFP

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  A Palestinian protesting after the military raid in the West Bank city of Nablus. AP

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  A defiant Palestinian fronts up to an Israeli military vehicle during the raid. AFP

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  Grief at a funeral of 10 Palestinians, including gunmen, in Nablus. Reuters

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  Palestinians carry a man wounded in the Israeli operation. EPA

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  An Israeli officer throws teargas at Palestinians in Nablus. AP

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  Medics carry a wounded Palestinian to receive treatment. AP

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  The city is known as a militant stronghold and the Israeli army frequently operates there. AP

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  Palestinians clash with Israeli forces in Nablus. Reuters

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  A Palestinian confronts Israeli military vehicles. AP

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  Relatives outside a hospital mourn the death of a Palestinian killed in the Israeli raid. AFP

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  Palestinians clash with Israeli forces during the raid in Nablus. Reuters

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  Bystanders help a Palestinian woman wounded in the raid. AFP

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  Teargas fills a street in Nablus during the Israeli raid. AFP

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  Palestinians confront Israeli forces. AFP

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  Israeli security forces during the raid. Reuters

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  Smoke above a Nablus neighbourhood as Palestinians clash with Israeli forces. AP

Palestine's Foreign Ministry on Thursday renewed calls for international protection against Israeli incursions in Jerusalem, “particularly Al Aqsa” and holy sites in the West Bank.

The Palestinians want to establish an independent state in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza, territories Israel occupied in the 1967 war.

US-sponsored statehood talks collapsed in 2014 and show no sign of revival while Israel has maintained military rule over millions of Palestinians and expanded West Bank settlements, which most countries deem as illegal.