Israeli police kill Palestinian in Jerusalem as army blocks aid for Qusra

Israeli police have killed a Palestinian man in Jerusalem and the Israeli army has blocked humanitarian assistance from reaching an occupied West Bank village besieged by settlers for weeks.

Key points

• The Palestinian Wafa news agency identified the man as Ibrahim al-Hendi from East Jerusalem's Beit Hanina neighbourhood.
• After the incident, Israeli forces deployed around Damascus Gate and the surrounding area of Jerusalem's Old City, Palestinian sources informed Al Jazeera.
• Ten other Palestinians were arrested during a 48-hour Israeli army operation in Nablus in the West Bank.
• Officers opened fire on a 33-year-old Palestinian near Damascus gate in Jerusalem on Friday.
• Regarding 100 activists arrived to deliver supplies to the besieged families, the Israeli Peace Now movement stated in a post on X.

Officers opened fire on a 33-year-old Palestinian near Damascus gate in Jerusalem on Friday. Israeli police remarked its border guard "neutralised" the man, claiming he was attempting to stab one of them.

Notably, the Palestinian Wafa news agency identified the man as Ibrahim al-Hendi from East Jerusalem's Beit Hanina neighbourhood. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Separately, the Israeli army remarked that it arrested Palestinians in the town of Qabatiya in the West Bank, alleging they were "planning to carry out an attack" against Israelis and security forces.

Ten other Palestinians were arrested during a 48-hour Israeli army operation in Nablus in the West Bank. The Israeli army remarked it seized more than "30 weapon production machines used to manufacture weapons" during the operation.

Meanwhile, Israeli settlers and soldiers carried out attacks throughout the occupied West Bank on Friday, Wafa noted. Settlers stormed the Khirbet al-Hamra community in the northern Jordan Valley and assaulted one resident.

Israeli settlers, accompanied by soldiers, additionally attacked Khalet a-Nahlah in southern Bethlehem. Israeli forces additionally fired tear gas and concussion grenades at a crowd of Palestinians who gathered to resist the attacks. Blocking access to Qusra.

As violence and harassment of Palestinians continues throughout the occupied territory, the Israeli army on Friday additionally prevented around 100 peace activists from delivering food and medicine to Palestinians who have been under siege in the town of Qusra for 28 days.

While the Israeli army has additionally prevented the families from entering or leaving them, claiming the area is a "closed military zone", since August 9, Israeli settlers have besieged three Palestinian homes in the northern occupied West Bank village.

"Day 28 of the blockade on Qusra. Regarding 100 activists arrived to deliver supplies to the besieged families, " the Israeli Peace Now movement stated in a post on X.

"The army blocked us at first, claiming Qusra was a 'closed military zone.' Then let us in but on the way back detained us for 'violating a closed military zone', " it continued.

Qusra Mayor Abdel Azim Wadi additionally informed the state-run Turkish Anadolu news agency that the Israeli army has been "preventing the delivery of basic necessities to three families trapped on Mount Ras al-Ain".

US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee informed Israeli public broadcaster Kan on Friday that settler violence against Palestinians is damaging the image of Israel as a nation and a people, warning that Israel needs all the friends it can secure and doesn't need more enemies.

Around 750, 000 Israeli settlers live in 156 illegal settlements and 360 settlement outposts in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and carry out attacks aimed at forcibly displacing Palestinians, according to Palestinian figures.

Taken together, the developments around israeli police kill Palestinian in Jerusalem as army blocks aid for Qusra point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.