UNRWA urges Israel to probe death of Palestinian youth

By Anees Barghouthi

RAMALLAH, Palestine (AA) - The UN relief agency UNRWA called Tuesday on Israeli authorities to conduct a full investigation into last week’s death of a Palestinian youth during clashes near the West Bank city of Hebron.

“The Israeli authorities as an occupying power should be responsible for the protection of the civilians in the West Bank, including refugees,” the agency said in a statement.

“We call on the Israeli authorities to open a full investigation into the incident,” it added.

According to UNRWA, Palestinian residents said that hundreds of Israeli soldiers had stormed the al-Fawar refugee camp near Hebron on Tuesday and searched more than 200 homes, which led to clashes with Palestinian youth.

A 19-year old Palestinian was killed and scores were injured in the violence.

“The Israeli forces responded with different types of lethal ammunition, including live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets and large amounts of teargas” it said .

Israeli forces often stage incursions into Palestinian areas of the occupied West Bank on the pretext that they are searching for "wanted" Palestinians.