September 14th 2024.
Tragedy struck on Friday as a United Nations employee was among ten individuals who lost their lives during an Israeli military operation in the occupied West Bank. The devastating incident was confirmed by both the Israeli military and the UN.
The victim, Sufyan Jaber Abed Jawwad, was a respected sanitation worker in El Far'a Camp in the West Bank. According to a statement from the United Nations Agency for Palestinian Refugees, Jawwad was fatally shot on the roof of his home in the early hours of September 12 by a sniper during an overnight military operation.
In an interview with CNN, Juliette Touma, the communications director for the agency, revealed that Jawwad was enjoying a cup of coffee on his rooftop when he received three fatal shots to the chest. The tragic loss of life has been compounded by the fact that the Israeli military has labeled Jawwad and the others killed as "terrorists."
Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani, spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces, confirmed that Jawwad was killed during an operation in the Far'a area of the West Bank. He alleged that Jawwad was actively involved in hurling explosive devices, posing a serious threat to the Israeli forces in the area. Shoshani stated that the soldiers were forced to open fire, resulting in Jawwad's death.
The IDF also claimed that Jawwad was known to them and had been involved in previous terrorist activities. In a statement released earlier on Friday, the IDF reported that they had uncovered and dismantled a vehicle rigged with explosives, as well as explosives laboratories, operational communications rooms, and weapons during the operation that claimed Jawwad's life.
CNN reached out to UNRWA for a comment on the IDF's claims, but no response has been received yet. Jawwad's death marks the first time in over a decade that a UNRWA staff member has been killed in the West Bank, leaving behind his wife and five children.
The tragic loss of life has sparked outrage and condemnation from various parties, including the Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who called it a "heinous crime." However, this is not the first time that the IDF has expressed suspicion towards UNRWA staff. In January, they accused several members of the agency in Gaza of direct involvement in a terror attack on Israel.
The recent military operation has also resulted in the deaths of several other individuals in the areas of Tulkarem, Nur Shams, and Tubas, according to the IDF. The Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of Islamic Jihad, claimed that the five killed in Tubas were members of their group and were preparing for attacks against the Israeli forces.
The death of Jawwad comes at a time of heightened military activity in the West Bank, with recent operations causing significant damage to humanitarian resources and infrastructure. UNRWA has been forced to suspend their services in the area due to the unacceptable risk posed by both Israeli and Palestinian groups, including the use of improvised explosive devices by armed actors.
These developments have drawn criticism from US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, who called for fundamental changes in the way Israeli forces operate in the occupied West Bank. The call for action comes after the tragic death of American activist Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, who was killed during a protest last week. The IDF has stated that Eygi was likely hit indirectly and unintentionally by their fire.
The loss of life in the West Bank has been devastating, with nearly 700 Palestinians killed since October, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health and the UN. These figures do not differentiate between militants and civilians, highlighting the need for a swift resolution to the ongoing conflict.
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