Palestinian shot dead by Israeli forces in W.Bank: ministry

• Nabil Ghanem, 53, of the West Bank city of Nablus, was identified as the victim by the Palestinian health ministry.
• Tens of thousands of West Bank Palestinians seek work in Israel on a regular basis.
• Israeli army spokesperson said forces had shot at “a suspect who vandalized the security fence”.

An Israeli soldier shot and killed a Palestinian worker while he was crossing a security barrier in the occupied West Bank on Sunday, According to Palestinian sources.

Nabil Ghanem, 53, of the West Bank city of Nablus, was identified as the victim by the Palestinian health ministry.

According to the official Palestinian news agency Wafa, Ghanem is one of tens of thousands of West Bank Palestinians who seek work in Israel on a regular basis.

Read More: Palestinian reporter for Iranian news agency beaten in West Bank

An Israeli army spokesperson said forces had shot at “a suspect who vandalised the security fence”.

Wages on Israeli farms and construction sites are far higher than what most Palestinian employers can pay in the West Bank, a territory occupied by Israeli since 1967.

Jobs inside Israel are highly coveted by many Palestinians. Some have permits to work in Israel while others seek to cross without authorization.

Ghanem’s killing comes amid a spike in Israeli-Palestinian violence.

Nineteen people, mostly Israeli civilians — including 18 inside Israel and a Jewish settler — have been killed in attacks by Palestinians and Israeli Arabs since late March.

Israeli security forces have responded with raids inside Israel and in the West Bank, particularly in and around Jenin. Three Israeli Arab attackers and an Israeli police commando have been killed.

Read More: Israeli forces kill three Palestinians in Jenin

In the West Bank, 45 Palestinians have been killed, including suspected militants and non-combatants, including an Al Jazeera journalist covering a raid in Jenin.

Tensions have recently risen after three Palestinians, members of armed factions, were killed by Israeli forces during an army raid in Jenin on Friday.