UK urges Israel to thoroughly investigate killing of Palestinian teen in West Bank

The UK is calling on Israel to conduct a thorough investigation into the killing of a Palestinian teen in the West Bank on Monday. 

15-year-old Ahmad Saqer was among the five Palestinians killed in clashes with the Israeli army in Jenin, which left another 91 Palestinians injured.

Seven Israeli troops were also injured in the clashes which erupted after after IDF arrested a Hamas and Islamic Jihad operative near Jenin when improvised explosive devices (IED) targeted Israeli military vehicles at around 7:10 AM.

“Following the death of 15-year-old Ahmad Saqer during an Israeli incursion into Jenin today, the UK urges Israel to conduct a swift and thorough investigation. Over 20 children have been killed in the West Bank this year by ISF,” the British consulate in Jerusalem said in a statement following the clashes.

“Israeli conduct must always be in line with international humanitarian law, including the principles of proportionality and distinction,” it added.

The IDF said that a “massive exchange of fire took place between the forces and armed gunmen in the area” following the detonation of the explosive devices.

IDF launched what it called a “logistical operation under fire” to extract the wounded troops, using Apache helicopters to fire at open areas in order to “stop the shooting and calm down” the area, according to IDF spokesperson.

The Palestinian Authority harshly condemned the army raid in Jenin on Monday, calling it a “recurring massacre.”

Egypt, Jordan and the UAE also condemned Israel for its conduct in Jenin, while United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said he is “extremely worried by the situation” in Jenin.

Volker also referred to the clashes as an “apparent execution by Israeli forces.”