The UN envoy for the Middle East peace process, Tor Wennesland, called Monday for an immediate and thorough investigation into the death of a Palestinian girl during an operation in the West Bank town of Beitunia, located near Ramallah.
«Wennesland is shocked by the tragic killing of a 15-year-old Palestinian girl by Israeli security forces during a raid this morning,» said UN Secretary-General’s Deputy Spokesperson Farhan al Haq.
«He sent his heartfelt condolences to her family and loved ones. This calls for an immediate and thorough investigation into his death,» he added.
Sources quoted by the Palestinian news agency WAFA have said that soldiers opened fire on the vehicle «for no apparent reason,» killing al Tal and wounding another occupant of the car who has been detained by the army.
An Israeli army spokesman said that the soldiers saw a suspicious vehicle and added that, despite an order to stop, it accelerated towards them, causing them to open fire, as reported by the Israeli daily ‘Haaretz’.
Israeli forces have killed more than 200 Palestinians so far this year, including 144 in the West Bank and East Jerusalem – including 50 in the Jenin area – more than 50 in the Gaza Strip and four in Israel, according to WAFA.
Tensions have increased in recent months in the West Bank following the latest attacks on Israelis, which have left nearly 20 dead. In addition, Israeli security forces have arrested nearly 2,000 suspects in numerous raids in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
