Three Palestinians injured after Israeli forces storm Bethlehem refugee camp

Three Palestinians were injured on Tuesday during an Israeli army raid of a refugee camp in Bethlehem, Palestinian news agency WAFA reported.

Israeli forces opened fire at residents of the Deheisheh camp, one of whom was hit in the chest and is said to be in critical condition.

The coming to power of an extreme right-wing government in Israel last November saw raids and other violence targeting Palestinians intensify, with at least 95 Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in 2023.

During the raid, soldiers detained eight camp residents after storming their family homes, WAFA reported sources as saying. 

Three other Palestinians were also injured in another army raid west of Ramallah in the town of Kufr Nimeh, WAFA reported, when soldiers also reportedly opened fire at the residents.

Since March 2022, Israel has been launching near-daily deadly raids on Palestinian cities in the occupied West Bank. 

Israeli forces also stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque on Sunday night after Ramadan prayers, forcing out worshippers there for Itikaaf -  the Islamic practice of staying in a mosque for a number of days to devote oneself to worship.

Palestinian worshippers have frequently being attacked by Israeli forces at Al-Aqsa while Israeli extremists regularly raid the compound.