Israeli navy acknowledges troops fatally shot Palestinian woman throughout operation in West BankYesterday

The Israeli navy on Monday acknowledged that its troops fatally shot a teenage Palestinian woman throughout an operation within the occupied West Financial institution, saying she was unintentionally hit by hearth aimed toward gunmen within the space.

It was a uncommon admission of an error by the navy, which has carried out each day arrest operations within the West Financial institution for practically 9 months. Israel’s prime minister expressed sorrow over the woman’s dying, however mentioned the operations within the space would proceed.

About 150 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli-Palestinian combating within the West Financial institution and east Jerusalem this yr, making it the deadliest yr since 2006.

The Israeli military says a lot of the Palestinians killed have been militants. However stone-throwing youths protesting Israeli military incursions and others not concerned in confrontations, together with a outstanding Al Jazeera journalist, have additionally been killed within the combating.

Palestinian officers mentioned Jana Zakaran, 16, was killed in a single day Monday within the northern metropolis of Jenin on the roof of her residence.

In an announcement, the Israeli navy mentioned an preliminary inquiry discovered the woman “was hit by unintentional hearth aimed toward armed gunmen” on a close-by rooftop. “It seems the woman who was killed had been on the roof of one of many homes close to the gunmen,” it mentioned.

It mentioned the forces opened hearth after native militants hurled firebombs and opened hearth on the troopers.

The military mentioned that its commanders “remorse any hurt to uninvolved civilians,” however mentioned that it could press forward with its operations.

Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid issued an announcement expressing sorrow over the woman’s dying and despatched condolences to her household. He additionally expressed assist for Israel’s troopers and mentioned operations within the West Financial institution would proceed whereas Israel would do its “utmost” to keep away from civilian casualties.

Salah al-Zayed, a cousin and neighbour, mentioned Zakaran had gone onto the roof to seek for her cat when she was shot. He mentioned the household heard gunshots however didn’t know she was up there, and solely discovered her physique about an hour later after the military withdrew.

He mentioned the woman was shot 4 occasions, together with twice within the head. He rejected claims that the taking pictures was an accident, saying she was removed from the battlefield and there have been no militants close by.

“They killed her in chilly blood,” he mentioned. “We would like justice and that is the least of her rights. She had the correct to stay like some other little one and to be glad, to not be killed in chilly blood.”

Jenin is named a stronghold of militants. The military has lengthy operated within the space, stepping up its actions after a collection of lethal assaults inside Israel final spring, a few of which have been carried out by militants from Jenin.

Jenin is residence to the refugee camp the place Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was killed final Could. The military has mentioned its forces most definitely shot her unintentionally, however has supplied no proof to again up the declare that she might need been hit by Palestinian gunmen within the space. Al Jazeera final week requested the Worldwide Prison Court docket within the Hague to analyze the taking pictures.

Israel has been conducting each day arrest raids all through the West Financial institution, in an operation prompted by a spate of Palestinian assaults in opposition to Israelis within the spring that killed 19 folks.

The navy says the raids are supposed to dismantle militant networks and thwart future assaults, however the Palestinians say they entrench Israel’s open-ended occupation, now in its 56th yr.

No less than 31 folks have died in Arab assaults in Israel and the occupied West Financial institution this yr, in response to Israeli figures.