RAMALLAH, (PIC)
A Palestinian young man was martyred on Wednesday morning after being shot by Israeli forces during a raid on the town of Silwad, northeast of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank.
According to local sources, 37-year-old Abdul-Halim Hammad was shot dead and his body was seized after Israeli forces stormed his home and assaulted his family in Silwad town.
Media sources reported that Israeli soldiers raided the Hammad family’s home in an attempt to arrest Abdul‑Halim, sparking heated verbal confrontations inside. The situation soon escalated into physical assaults on family members, with eyewitnesses saying soldiers abused a one‑and‑a‑half‑year‑old infant girl, dragging her in front of her relatives.
For its part, the Israeli occupation army claimed that two of its soldiers were injured during the raid after Abdul-Halim attacked them with a sharp weapon inside the house, adding that soldiers opened fire at him to neutralize the threat.
The Israeli forces also kidnaped the slain young man’s father and brother, who were taken to an unknown location after the house was extensively searched and vandalized.
The incident revived painful memories for the family as Abdul Halim’s brother had been killed in the same house about five years ago by Israeli soldiers.
The forces also stormed other homes and clashed with local youths during the violent raid in the town.
Following the incident, the Israeli army closed roads around Silwad and other areas of Ramallah.
