26.9 C
Accra
Friday, February 7, 2025
WorldPalestinian teacher shot while providing first aid to a militant

Date:

Palestinian teacher shot while providing first aid to a militant

Paramedics and the man’s family claim that Israeli forces killed a 57-year-old Palestinian teacher who went to treat a militant who was fatally wounded.

Father of six and Jenin refugee camp resident Jawad Bouaqneh was assassinated outside his home.

It happened during a night of raids by the Israeli army in the West Bank’s occupied territory.

His passing brings the total number of Palestinians killed this month to 17, both militants and civilians.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed that after receiving a lot of live fire from Palestinian assailants, their troops were under heavy fire.

It said it was aware of a report that a civilian was killed “in the area of the exchange of fire” and the incident was being “reviewed”.

Mr Bouaqneh’s son Farid said they heard a man – later confirmed to be the fatally wounded militant – calling for help outside their home.

“My father went out to help the man, to provide first aid,” he said.

“We dragged him inside and… they shot my father in the upper body and I moved him inside as he was covered in blood,” he told Reuters news agency, standing at a doorway with a blood-stained floor.

Palestinians gather outside the house of 57-year-old teacher Jawad Bouaqneh in Jenin, in the occupied West Bank (19 January 2023)
Image caption,Blood was visible on the steps outside Jawad Bouaqneh’s home

Palestinian paramedics said Mr Bouaqneh and a medic were both approaching the wounded militant outside the house.

“At that moment the Israeli soldiers shot high velocity bullets at them and a bullet hit the teacher… in the chest while he was trying to help the injured,” the Palestinian Medical Relief Society (PMRS) said in a statement to the BBC.

“[The medic] said he was wearing a clear first aid vest when the shooting happened,” it said, adding both the men who were shot were declared dead at hospital.

The Palestinian health ministry confirmed the death of Adham Jabareen, 28, who was later identified by Palestinian Islamic Jihad as one of its members. Local reports said he was a commander in Jenin for the group, which is listed by Israel and the West as a terrorist organisation.

Video from Thursday morning’s raid shows armoured troop carriers and a military digger entering Jenin, while repeated gunfire can be heard in other footage.

Palestinian media reported that Israeli snipers were deployed on rooftops of several homes overlooking the camp, while an undercover Israeli unit entered a building at the camp entrance and detained residents.

The IDF said its forces faced gunfire and that explosive devices were thrown, adding that an Israeli soldier suffered minor injuries and was taken to hospital. It said troops seized weapons and arrested an individual “suspected of involvement in terrorist activity”.

It is the latest in a near-nightly campaign of Israeli military search, arrest and intelligence gathering raids that intensified from last April, as violence in Israel and the occupied West Bank reached levels unmatched in years.

Last year in the West Bank more than 150 Palestinians were killed, nearly all by Israeli forces. The dead included unarmed civilians, militant gunmen and armed attackers. A series of Palestinian attacks targeting Israelis, as well as militant gunfire at troops during arrest raids, killed more than 30 people including civilians, police and soldiers. 

Also on Thursday US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan visited the region, meeting Israeli and Palestinian officials, amid growing concern about a further deterioration in the security situation.

It is the first trip by a senior US official since Benjamin Netanyahu returned to office leading the most right wing and religious coalition in Israel’s history.

[forminator_poll id="710479"]

Latest stories

Ghana may soon face bush meat scarcity – Fire Service

The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has issued a...

Annoh-Dompreh warns EC to declare Afriyieh winner in Ablekuma North or face unrest

Member of Parliament for Nsawam/Adoagyiri, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, has called...

Our strength to overcome any challenge lies in our diversity – Mahama to Ghanaians

President John Dramani Mahama has underscored the power of...

Boakye Agyarko lists concerns fueling calls for rebranding

A former flagbearer hopeful of the New Patriotic Party...

What former SIC MD is demanding from govt

The former Managing Director of SIC Insurance PLC, Hollister...

No peace in Parliament until Ablekuma North results are settled – Annoh-Dompreh to Majority

The Minority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, has stated that...

Hooliganism in politics is dividing our nation – Sam Okuzeto

The former president of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA),...

Related stories

“I still consider it my biggest failure” – Bill Gates on life after divorce

Bill Gates is speaking candidly about his divorce from Melinda French...

Kanye West reclaims title as wealthiest rapper, surpassing JAY-Z

Kanye West has reportedly reclaimed the title of the...

Meta offers TikTokers $5,000 to join Facebook, Instagram

Social media giant Meta has offered to pay up...

About 1,600 Capitol riot defendants pardoned by Trump

President Donald Trump has issued pardons or commuted sentences...

LIVESTREAMING: Swearing-in ceremony for Donald Trump

Today marks the beginning of Donald Trump's second term...

Inauguration Day schedule for Trump’s swearing-in ceremony today

Donald Trump will take the oath of office today...

WhatsApp to stop working on these devices in 2025

WhatsApp will soon cease supporting 18 Android models and...