SONNA – Israeli forces have shot dead a Palestinian man who they claim was approaching them with a knife drawn, the latest killing of a Palestinian in the occupied West Bank.<\/p>\n
The Palestinian health ministry announced the death of Yazan Omar Jamil Khasib, 23, who died \u201cafter the occupation [Israeli forces] opened fire on him at the northern entrance of el-Bireh\u201d city near Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank, on Friday.<\/p>\n
None of the Israeli forces was harmed.<\/p>\n
The Israeli army later said its forces \u201cspotted a suspect and asked him to identify himself\u201d. They claimed the man then drew a knife and Israeli troops opened fire and \u201cneutralised\u201d him, the army said in a statement, adding the killing took place close to Beitin, a Palestinian village near el-Bireh.<\/p>\n
Since the start of this year, at least 84 Palestinians, including children, have been killed by Israeli forces.<\/p>\n
On Thursday, at least four Palestinians, including a teenager, were killed by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin. A week earlier, Israeli forces\u00a0killed three Palestinians\u00a0in a Jenin raid and, less than 48 hours later,\u00a0six others were killed\u00a0in another raid in the same city.<\/p>\n
In January, Israeli soldiers\u00a0killed nine Palestinians, including an elderly woman, during a large-scale operation carried out in the Jenin refugee camp.<\/p>\n