Israeli forces kill Palestinian man inside home in occupied West Bank raid

A Palestinian man was killed Thursday after being shot by Israeli forces during a raid on the town of Sarta in the occupied West Bank, as his family said Israeli troops prevented paramedics from reaching him for nearly two hours after shooting him inside his home.

Israeli forces raided the town, west of Salfit, conducting house searches and arrest operations targeting several Palestinians, witnesses told Anadolu Agency.

During the raid, Israeli soldiers entered a home and opened fire at Mustafa Taha Khatib inside the house, critically wounding him, the witnesses said.

Khatib was transferred to Salfit Government Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

“My nephew called me and said the army was in the town,” he said. “I went up to the roof and saw Israeli forces positioned at the entrance leading to Mustafa’s home.”

He said Palestinian ambulance crews arrived after the Palestinian liaison office — the body responsible for field coordination with Israeli authorities — was informed that someone had been wounded.

“The ambulance reached the area, but the army prevented it from entering, cleared the surroundings of the house, and remained there for about two hours after Mustafa was shot and injured,” he said.

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According to Yassin Khatib, Israeli soldiers later detained one of the family’s relatives before withdrawing from the area. “Only then were the medics allowed to enter,” he said.

He added that he was among the first family members to reach the house after Israeli forces left.

“I went in behind the ambulance, but the paramedics asked us to stay outside. Then we learned that Mustafa had lost his life,” he said.

Describing the scene inside, Yassin Khatib said there were clear signs of a violent raid.

“From the broken door and the damaged contents of the room, it was obvious they forced their way in without giving him time even to open the door or get dressed,” he said.

“They went straight into the room where he was and opened fire.”