Islamic Jihad calls for Palestinian unity after ‘Israeli’ killing of Palestinian youth
The Palestinian resistance movement Islamic Jihad has called for the expansion of unity among the Palestinians in the face of Israel’s endless crimes against Palestinian youths across the occupied territories.
The group issued a statement on Friday, reacting to the killing of a young Arab man in the city of Kafr Qassem earlier in the day.
Israel’s crimes against the Palestinians in the occupied territories will never undermine the steadfastness of the nation, reads the statement. “We call for increased popular solidarity and unity to target occupiers and prevent their stability.”
Israeli forces shot dead Mahmoud Naim Badir, 23, alleging that he was carrying out a shooting and ramming attack. The Israeli military claimed two of its forces were injured during the incident.
Israeli media cited the police as saying that the operation had been planned several days in advance and included shooting and throwing firebombs.
Meanwhile, the family of the slain Palestinian man has dismissed the Israeli scenario. “The Israeli forces killed our son Naim Badir in cold blood, and the Israeli story on our son carrying out an attack on Israeli forces is a false claim.”
Naim’s family said the “police, after killing our son, stormed the house and destroyed it completely in front of children, who screamed, cried, and were terrified by the Israeli violent behavior.”
The increased attacks of Israeli forces and settlers against the occupied territories have made 2022 the deadliest year for the Palestinians since 2005, according to United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
The attacks have claimed the lives of at least 220 Palestinians, including more than 50 children. In retaliation, the Palestinians have killed 29 Israelis, including soldiers, in the same period.
