People inspect a damaged house after Israeli forces demolished it in the West Bank city of Nablus, on June 15, 2023. Israeli troops shot and killed a Palestinian and injured two others in the city of Nablus in the occupied West Bank on Thursday morning, according to Palestinian and Israeli sources. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua)
JERUSALEM, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Israeli troops shot and killed a Palestinian and injured two others in the city of Nablus in the occupied West Bank on Thursday morning, according to Palestinian and Israeli sources.
In a statement, the Palestinian Health Ministry identified the victim as 20-year-old Khalil Yehya Anis, who died from gunshot wounds in the head, and one of the other two Palestinians who were shot suffered critical injuries.
The Israeli military confirmed in a statement that their forces raided the Rafidiya neighborhood to demolish the home of Usama Tawil, who was arrested on Feb. 13 and charged with killing a soldier outside an Israeli settlement on Oct. 11 last year.
"During the operation, gunshots were heard in the area and suspects shot at the (Israeli) forces, causing damage to vehicles," the Israeli military said, adding the Israeli troops responded with riot control equipment and opened fire at several suspects.
Israel claims that its contentious practice of demolishing homes serves as a punitive measure and an effective deterrent to Palestinians' attacks, while critics argue that it amounts to an unlawful collective punishment that leaves the relatives of the assailants homeless.
In early 2005, Israel ceased to use the practice after a Defense Ministry committee concluded that it is ineffective.
However, Israel resumed the controversial practice in 2015 in the wake of a wave of street attacks. ■
People inspect a damaged house after Israeli forces demolished it in the West Bank city of Nablus, on June 15, 2023. Israeli troops shot and killed a Palestinian and injured two others in the city of Nablus in the occupied West Bank on Thursday morning, according to Palestinian and Israeli sources. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua)
People carry the body of Khalil Yehya Anis during his funeral in a refugee camp near the West Bank city of Nablus, on June 15, 2023. Israeli troops shot and killed a Palestinian and injured two others in the city of Nablus in the occupied West Bank on Thursday morning, according to Palestinian and Israeli sources. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua)
A relative of Khalil Yehya Anis mourns during his funeral in a refugee camp near the West Bank city of Nablus, on June 15, 2023. Israeli troops shot and killed a Palestinian and injured two others in the city of Nablus in the occupied West Bank on Thursday morning, according to Palestinian and Israeli sources. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua)
