Palestinian media say Israeli forces have shot and killed two Palestinians in the West Bank.<\/p>\n
The incident took place near a junction between the cities of Bethlehem and al-Khalil (Hebron) on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Israeli forces claim that the two Palestinians were involved in what they called a \u201ccriminal incident\u201d and that soldiers opened fire after the 20-year-old victim, Sami al-Ja\u2019aar, tried to flee the area.<\/p>\n
Palestinian officials have not yet commented on the shooting.<\/p>\n
Israel has intensified its crackdown in the occupied West Bank in recent months.<\/p>\n
This comes amid a surge in protests against the Tel Aviv regime\u2019s occupation of Palestinian territories and its ongoing aggression against Palestinians. A large number of Palestinians, including minors, have been arrested during the recent months.<\/p>\n
There are reportedly over 7,000 Palestinians in 17 Israeli prisons and detention camps. Among the Palestinian prisoners are 18 women, 250 children, 1,500 ailing individuals, who are mostly in a critical condition, and 540 Palestinians held without any trial under the so-called administrative detention.<\/p>\n
Administrative detention is a sort of imprisonment without trial or charges that allows Israel to incarcerate Palestinians for up to six months. The detention order can be renewed for indefinite periods of time.<\/p>\n