UNITED NATIONS, July 13 (Xinhua) -- A 20-year-old Palestinian, reportedly in search of work, was shot and killed on Monday while attempting to cross the Israeli barrier into East Jerusalem, UN humanitarians said.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said the victim was attempting to cross the barrier in the Bir Nabala area into East Jerusalem. The office did not identify the shooter or an affiliation.
"Palestinians must always be protected, and in law enforcement contexts, the use of lethal force must be a last resort," the office said.
In October 2023, Israeli authorities revoked or suspended most permits issued to Palestinians to access East Jerusalem and Israel for work and other purposes.
Israel began building the meandering barrier in 2002 in an attempt to stop a wave of Palestinian attacks.
The UN humanitarian community in the occupied Palestinian territory has documented the killing of 20 Palestinians and the injury of more than 290 others who were reportedly attempting to cross the barrier, as of June 6, OCHA said.
Regarding Gaza, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said it was last permitted to bring in animal feed on June 4.
Since early February, animal feed prices in the local market have doubled or tripled, depending on the type of feed, undermining recent successes by FAO in reducing livestock mortality and increasing the number of goats and sheep.
"To protect livestock and strengthen local food availability, humanitarians are calling for renewed access for animal feed imports and for the full and unrestricted entry of essential agricultural supplies by the private sector and aid community," OCHA said. ■
