Palestinian minor dies of wounds by Israeli forces, 10th killed in 2023

A Palestinian teenager died on Monday of wounds caused by Israeli gunfire during a military raid on the north West Bank city of Nablus in early February. 

The Palestinian health ministry identified the victim as 16-year-old Muntaser Al-Shawa, a resident of the balata refugee camp in Nablus.

Al-Shawa was wounded in the head by an Israeli sniper during an Israeli military raid on 8 February at the religious site of Joseph Tomb in the eastern part of Nablus while he was confronting raiding forces with stones. Al-Shawa succumbed to his wounds Monday morning at the Rafidia hospital in the city.

BREAKING: Palestinian teen Montasr al-Shawa, 16, has succumbed to injuries he sustained twelve days ago by Israeli occupation forces in Nablus. pic.twitter.com/enibvrAXtG

— V PALESTINE 🇵🇸 (@V_Palestine20) February 20, 2023

"Muntaser was a simple boy who lived a hard life, like all children in the refugee camp," his uncle told Palestinian media during his funeral. "The occupation's bullet went through his neck and rested near his skull. He was in a coma for days before passing away today."

Muntaser Al-Shawa is the 49th Palestinian to be killed by Israeli forces in 2023 and the 10th under 18 years.

Israeli forces continued military raids on Monday into several towns and villages around Nablus, Hebron, Bethlehem, east Jerusalem and the outskirts of Jenin, arresting 24 Palestinians, according to the Palestinian Prisoners' Club.

Palestinian mourners take part in the funeral of Palestinian teen Montasr al-Shawa, who succumbed to injuries he sustained twelve days ago by Israeli forces in Nablus. pic.twitter.com/wA3gphyOcn

— V PALESTINE 🇵🇸 (@V_Palestine20) February 21, 2023

Since last year, Israeli forces have escalated military raids against Palestinian communities and cities in the occupied West Bank.

On Monday, Israeli media reported that the Israeli government had agreed to reduce military raids as part of an agreement sponsored by the US administration in exchange for the Palestinian Authority withdrawing support for a UN Security Council resolution condemning Israeli settlement expansion.