Israeli forces have martyred nine Palestinian children this year: Palestine

Israeli forces have shot and martyred forty-two Palestinians, including nine children, since the beginning of the year, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

The Ministry said in a report on Wednesday that the number of Palestinians who have been murdered by Israeli forces since the beginning of 2023 has risen to 42, including an elderly woman and nine children, eight of them during January alone, Palestine’s official Wafa news agency reported.

It said the Israeli regime has committed more crimes against Palestinians in the Occupied Territories in 2023 than any other time in recent years, adding that the new year has so far been particularly hurtful to children.

The ministry explained that last year, 224 Palestinians, including 53 children and 17 women, were martyred at the hands of Israeli troops and settlers across the Occupied Territories, marking 2022 the deadliest year for Palestinians since 2005.

It also said eight of the slain Palestinians were younger than ten years of age, 45 were aged between 11-17 years, 108 between 18-29 years of age, 27 between 30-39 years of age, 19 between 40- 49 years of age, 11 between 50-59, and five aged over 60.

Israeli forces launch raids on various cities of the occupied West Bank almost on a daily basis under the pretext of detaining what the regime calls “wanted” Palestinians. The raids usually lead to violent confrontations with residents.

Over the past months, Israel has ramped up attacks on Palestinian towns and cities throughout the Occupied Territories. As a result of these attacks, dozens of Palestinians have lost their lives and many others have been arrested.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian Commission of Detainees’ and Ex-Detainees’ Affairs says Israel has arrested more than 50,000 children since 1967.

ME