JERUSALEM // Israeli forces killed a Palestinian boy as he walked home from school on Monday amid fears that widespread clashes were building towards a third intifada.
Those fears were increased on Monday night when Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave his troops free rein in their dealings with “any rioter, inciter or terrorist anywhere”.
Abed Al Rahman Obeidallah, 13, was the second Palestinian teenager killed in a wave of escalating violence in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, both illegally occupied by Israel.
Abed’s family said he was shot in the chest with live ammunition by Israeli forces near the Aida refugee camp in Bethlehem while wearing his school bag.
He had been on his way home from lessons when he got caught up in clashes, his uncle, Fadi Obeidallah, told The National. Palestinian medics said the boy was killed by a single bullet. He was taken in a car to Beit Jala hospital where he underwent emergency surgery, but doctors soon pronounced him dead.
Eyewitnesses said another teenager was reportedly shot with live fire in the leg during the same clashes and also taken to hospital.
Israeli Defense Forces admitted using live fire after being confronted by “50 rioters”.
“The incident will be investigated,” a statement said.
Local businesses announced a general strike in Bethlehem for late on Monday and all day Tuesday as a result of Abed’s death.
Violent clashes continued in Bethlehem late into Monday night.
The killing comes after 18-year-old Palestinian, Hudhayfah Ali Suleiman, was shot during clashes with Israeli troops at a checkpoint in the West Bank on Sunday night.
According to the Palestinian Red Crescent, on Monday alone 12 Palestinians were injured in clashes near Ramallah – ten were hurt by tear gas inhalation, one by live fire and another by rubber bullets. Over the weekend, they said up to 100 Palestinians were injured in clashes with Israeli forces. Clashes broke out near Hebron, Bethlehem and near Jenin.
The violence escalated after Israel on Sunday imposed an unprecedented ban on Palestinians entering Jerusalem’s Old City. Only Palestinians who are either residents, or shop owners have been allowed to enter.
The two-day ban, the first since Israel captured the Old City in 1967, came after two Israelis were stabbed and killed on Saturday night.
Residents in the Old City told The National security checks were rigid and many residents, business owners and tradesmen had found it difficult to cross.
One shop owner, Khaled, said he had barely sold anything on Sunday despite a steady stream of Christian tourists.
Many of the shops closed by mid afternoon on Sunday.
In response, Palestinians in East Jerusalem went on strike, closing many shops and schools on Sunday and Monday.
The ban on access to the Old City came after two separate stabbing attacks on Israelis and the subsequent shooting of the alleged Palestinian attackers.
According to Israeli police, one of the attackers, Mohannad Halabi, 19, stabbed two ultraorthodox men – Nehamia Lavi, 41, a rabbi for the right-wing settlement group Ateret Cohahim and Aharon Bennett, 21, an off-duty soldier.
Bennett’s wife was also wounded along with her two-year-old son.
Halabi was shot dead at the scene by Israeli forces. His father Shafiq Halabi said his son was studying to become a lawyer and “defend those oppressed by the Israeli occupation”.
He said there was no sign that his was behaving abnormally when he last saw him on Saturday morning.
Mohannad’s Facebook showed messages condemning recent escalations of violence in Jerusalem and he proclaimed: “The third intifada is here.”
A neighbour and friend of Mohannad, Montaz Ataya, 28, said he was shocked at the events.
“No one is putting any pressure on the settlers and this is causing an explosion for us,” he said referring to continued settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank.
The attack in the Old City came days after a Jewish couple Eitam and Naaam Henkin from the Neria settlement were killed in their vehicle in front of their four children by a Palestinian gunman.
Israeli security forces said on Monday they had captured five alleged Hamas militants suspected of carrying out that attack.
On Sunday Israeli police shot East Jerusalem resident Fadi Aloon, 18, who allegedly attacked a 15-year-old Israeli with a knife.
Aloon’s father, Samir, denied the claims. He said Fadi was fleeing from a group of right-wing Israeli protesters.
Aloon had posted on Facebook page the same night of this death: “Either martyrdom, or victory.”
An Israeli news channel showed footage of Aloon seemingly walking along the centre of the nearby light rail tracks as bystanders screamed “shoot him”.
A police car arrived at the scene and multiple gunshots can be heard as Aloon falls to the concrete.
Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas blamed Israel for the spiralling violence.
“The Israeli side have an interest in dragging things into a cycle of violence and are trying through escalation at Al Aqsa [Mosque] and settler attacks to escape their political impasse and international isolation,” Mr Abbas said on Monday.
Mr Netanyahu said he would launch a “harsh offensive” against Palestinians after the two stabbing attacks.
After a meeting with security officials on Sunday he announced the Israeli government would fast-track the demolition of “terrorists” homes and strengthen security in Jerusalem and the West Bank and “ban those who incite” violence in the Old City and Al Aqsa Mosque compound.
He has also called on the UN to protect Palestinians from increasing violence by Jewish settlers in the West Bank.
The spike in violence comes less than a week since both Mr Abbas and Mr Netanyahu spoke at the UN General Assembly.
There is a growing mood among Palestinians that Palestinian statehood through negotiations with Israel is no longer possible.
foreign.desk@thenational.ae
