Ali Sawafta

JENIN (West Bank) – Israeli soldiers have killed a Palestinian militant in clashes in West Bank. The violence broke out during a raid on the home of a gunman suspected of carrying out a fatal shooting attack in Tel Aviv. Sources from both Israeli and Palestinian said that the attacker was armed with a weapon.

In the lead-up to Ramadan (the Muslim holy month), tensions between Israeli and Palestinians are at an all-time high. Both sides have warned against any further escalation. In the meantime, many deadly incidents have increased.

According to the Palestinian Health Ministry 13 people sustained injuries in Saturday’s fighting in Jenin. Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed that the terrorist killed was part of its militant group.

According to the Israeli military, its soldiers had been conducting counter-terrorism operations in the region and opened fire on Palestinian attackers who fired at them.

Local residents claimed that troops were present at the residence of a suspect who, on Thursday night, opened fire in Tel Aviv’s bar killing three Israelis. A few hours later, he was killed in an altercation with Israeli security officers.

The soldiers did not make any arrests at the home of his son on Saturday.

Thursday’s shooting saw the death toll from a series of Palestinian and Arab attacks on Israel rise to 14. This was the most severe increase in violence since 2016 which Israeli leaders called “a new wave in terror”.

Jenin is considered to be a stronghold by militant Palestinians. Israel launched a few raids in Jenin in the two week period.

Since January, more than 20 Palestinian militants have been murdered by Israeli forces.

Palestinians reported almost daily instances of Jewish settler violence on the West Bank, East Jerusalem and West Bank. Israel was captured during the 1967 War.

In 2014, peace talks between Israel and Palestine broke down. However, Jewish settlements expanded in Palestinian areas that they want to be an independent state.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abas condemned Tel Aviv’s attack on Friday.

However, he warned about the dangers from Israeli provocations in Al-Aqsa Mosque. The compound is holy to Jews and Muslims, just days after an extremist Israeli lawmaker visited it.

The Friday Ramadan prayers ended however peacefully.