JERUSALEM: Israeli for­c­es shot dead a Palestinian woman in the occupied West Bank on Monday, the Pale­stinian health ministry said, while the army confirmed raids and a shooting incident in the area.

The Israeli Defence Forces reported that its soldiers had fired at a car that was speeding toward them and that “hits were identified”, but without confirming the fatality.

The Palestinian ministry announced “the death of a citizen after being shot in the head by occupation (Israeli) soldiers,” at sunrise in Beitunia, near Ramallah in the West Bank.

She was later identified as 19-year-old Sana al-Tal.

The Israeli army statement said that its forces had “conducted counterterrorism activities” in several West Bank locations early on Monday, including Beitunia.

“During the activity in the town of Beitunia, the soldiers identified a suspicious vehicle approaching them,” the statement added.

“The soldiers signalled the driver of the vehicle to stop, but he accelerated toward them. “In response, the soldiers shot at the vehicle. Hits were identified. The incident is under review,” the army added, without commenting specifically on the reported fatality. Israel has occupied the West Bank since the 1967 Six Day War. Violence in the territory has soared since March as Israel has launched near daily raids in response to series of deadly attacks on Israelis.

More than 130 Palest­inians were killed by Israeli soldiers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since January in an unprecedented wave of tension between Israel and the Palestinians, according to official Palestinian figures.

Published in Dawn, November 15th, 2022