13 Palestinian youths were wounded by Israeli gunfire as Israeli occupation forces stormed the Aqabat Jaber refugee camp, south of the occupied West Bank city of Jericho, the official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported.

Eyewitnesses told WAFA that large forces of the Israeli army stormed the camp from several directions, and deployed on the rooftops of the camps’ houses.

Israeli soldiers raided more than 50 houses, including the homes of the governor of Jericho and the Jordan Valley, Jihad Abu al-Assal, and his sons. They also surrounded the house of a Palestinian resident and fired missiles at him.

Israeli forces locked down and besieged the Aqaba Jaber refugee camp. More than 60 houses were raided. 13 Palestinians were injured and at least 14 Palestinians were detained. pic.twitter.com/FWzEUh371O

— The Palestine Chronicle (@PalestineChron) May 25, 2023

Local sources added that the occupation forces fired bullets and toxic gas bombs at Palestinian youths, injuring 13 young men with live bullets.

One of the casualties was reported to be in critical condition.

The director of the Palestinian Prisoner’s Society in Jericho, Eid Brahma, told WAFA that the occupation forces also detained 14 youths during the raid into the camp.

Israeli troops closed all entrances to the camp with dirt mounds and prevented the residents from entering or leaving it. They also prevented ambulances from entering, as heavy military vehicles were present at the scene.

(WAFA, PC, SOCIAL)