Several suffocate as Israeli forces raid northern West Bank village

Several Palestinians Tuesday evening suffocated as Israeli forces raided Rummana village, west of the occupied West Bank city of Jenin, according to security sources.

They said that Israeli soldiers barged their way into the village and intensively fired concussion grenades and tear gas canisters towards houses as well as towards a local clinic, causing several villagers, including patients, to suffocate from tear gas inhalation.

Israeli forces frequently raid Palestinian houses almost on a daily basis across the West Bank on the pretext of searching for “wanted” Palestinians, triggering clashes with residents.

These raids, which take place also in areas under the full control of the Palestinian Authority, are conducted with no need for a search warrant, whenever and wherever the military chooses in keeping with its sweeping arbitrary powers.

Under Israeli military law army commanders have full executive, legislative and judicial authority over 3 million Palestinians living in the West Bank. Palestinians have no say in how this authority is exercised.

Source: Palestine News & Information Agency