Daijiworld Media Network – Ramallah
Ramallah, Jul 6: A four-month-old Palestinian boy died after an Israeli military checkpoint allegedly delayed his access to emergency medical treatment, while a 16-year-old boy was shot dead by Israeli forces in separate incidents in the occupied West Bank on Sunday, Palestinian officials said.
According to Ramallah and el-Bireh Governor Laila Ghannam, doctors at the Arab Specialised Hospital confirmed the death of four-month-old Ahmad Marouf Zeid after Israeli forces prevented his transfer to the hospital for more than an hour despite his critical condition.
Ghannam alleged that Israeli soldiers fired tear gas to stop Palestinians attempting to cross a checkpoint at the entrance to Deir Ammar village. She described the infant's death as "a stain on the conscience of humanity" and accused Israel of obstructing Palestinians' access to healthcare and freedom of movement.
In a separate incident, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said Israeli forces shot dead a 16-year-old boy in the Qalandiya refugee camp near Ramallah. Two other boys, both aged 14, were also injured in the incident.
According to Palestinian health authorities, violence in the occupied West Bank has intensified since the outbreak of the Israel-Gaza war in October 2023, with at least 1,087 Palestinians reported killed by Israeli forces and settlers during the period.
Meanwhile, in Gaza, health officials said an Israeli drone strike targeted a gathering of Palestinians on Omar al-Mukhtar Street in Gaza City on Sunday, killing at least two people and injuring several others.
The Gaza Health Ministry said that alleged Israeli violations of the ceasefire that came into effect in October have resulted in the deaths of 1,066 people and injuries to 3,445 others.
The ministry added that the overall death toll in Gaza since the conflict began in October 2023 has risen to 73,090, with 173,550 people reported injured.
Israel has consistently rejected allegations that it is committing genocide in Gaza, maintaining that its military operations are directed against Hamas and other armed groups while accusing Hamas of operating from civilian areas.