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3 Palestinians killed in continuous tension with Israelis

Xinhua, December 19, 2015 Adjust font size:

Israeli forces killed three Palestinians in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip on Friday as tension continues without signs of calm in the near future.

According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, 20-year-old Mohammed Ayyad died of his wounds in the West Bank city of Ramallah. The Israeli army said soldiers fired at Ayyad after he attempted to run over them during clashes in Silwad village near Ramallah. None of the soldiers suffered injuries.

Witnesses said that Ayyad's family found his will written before he left the house, in which he said he wanted to combat for Palestine.

Ayyad's relatives said he was friend of 21-year-old Anas Hammad who was killed in Dec. 5 after carrying out a similar attack in the same area.

Also in the West Bank, the Health Ministry announced that 33-year-old Nashat Asfour died of injuries sustained during clashes in Sinjil village north of Ramallah.

Some 21 people were injuries by Israeli firing on Friday in clashes that erupted in several areas in the West Bank, the health ministry said.

In Gaza, Mahmoud Al-Agha, in his twenties, died hours after sustaining head injuries east of Khan Younis, south of the Gaza Strip, the ministry said.

He was shot during clashes between the Palestinians and Israeli forces in the borderline area between the Gaza Strip and Israel.

Witnesses told Xinhua that dozens of young men rushed to the borderline area on Fridays and clashed with the Israeli soldiers stationed there. The soldiers fired tear gas, rubber bullets and live ammunition. More than 44 people were injured by Israeli firing in Gaza, 40 of whom by live ammunition, the health ministry said.

The Palestinians have been going to the east and north borders of Gaza to throw rocks at the Israeli soldiers since the beginning of the current wave of tension broke out in October.

In all 129 Palestinians, including 26 children, and 20 Israelis have died during the violence.

Diplomatic efforts, highlighted by the visit of U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to the region, have not succeeded yet in containing the tension or resuming peace talks.

A delegation from the international Quartet ended its visit to the region on Thursday, also without progress, Palestinian officials said. Endit