This is a developing story and we will update it with further details as they become available.
06/10/2022: Palestinian armed group the Lion’s Den published a statement in mourning of Alaa Zaghal; we have not yet been able to independently verify whether Zaghal was affiliated with the relatively new Nablus-based armed group. The armed wing of the Fatah also issued a statement mourning “its hero”. It is unclear whether Zaghal was affiliated with any armed group.
Jerusalem24 – Israeli forces shot and killed one Palestinian and injured four others, including two journalists, while laying siege to a house in the town of Deir al-Hattab, east of Nablus in the occupied West Bank.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health announced the death of 21-year-old Alaa Nasser Ahmed Zaghal after he was shot in the head by Israeli forces, and was transferred to Rafidia Hospital in Nablus.
Four other Palestinians were hospitalized including two journalists working for Palestine TV, Mahmoud Fawzi and Louay Al-Samhan who were shot in the shoulder with live ammunition while covering the events.
Dozens of injuries due to tear gas inhalation were also reported.
Israeli forces laid a three-hour siege on a house in the town of Deir Al-Hattab belonging to Salman Omran. Eyewitness accounts say armed confrontations broke out and that heavy fire could be heard in the area for the duration of the siege.
Military bulldozers began demolishing the walls of the besieged house as Omran was inside.
Omran reportedly surrendered after running out of ammunition. Armed confrontations with other Palestinian fighters took place elsewhere in the village until Israeli forces retreated.
لحظة بدء جرافة لجيش الاحتلال بهدم جدران محيطة بالمنزل الذي يتحصن به المُشتبك سلمان عمران في دير الحطب شرق نابلس.#فلسطين pic.twitter.com/Y067BJQDAj
— شبكة قدس الإخبارية (@qudsn) October 5, 2022
Israeli forces also closed down roads leading to the villages of Azmout, Salem and Deir Al-Hattab, while Palestinian fighters clashed with the Israeli army.
Eyewitnesses recounted that Israeli forces prevented ambulances from entering the village, while the Red Crescent Society said its crews dealt with five injuries from live ammunition, including Zaghal who succumbed to a critical injury.
Israeli forces received reinforcements during the siege and deployed snipers in various locations covering all angles, which journalists present at the scene left “no safe place” for them to stand.
The journalists present issued warnings to other reporters through group chats to avoid the area, as they were coming under direct fire from the Israeli military.
Pictures taken immediately after the end of the siege show extensive damage to Omran’s house.
آثار الرصاص والدمار الذي خلّفه الاحتلال بالمنزل الذي تحصن به المعتقل سلمان عمران في دير الحطب شرق نابلس.#فلسطين pic.twitter.com/1tok8hChD0
— شبكة قدس الإخبارية (@qudsn) October 5, 2022
اشتباكات مسلحة مستمرة مع قوات الاحتلال في قرية دير الحطب شرق نابلس.#فلسطين pic.twitter.com/SNphpz6kF0
— شبكة قدس الإخبارية (@qudsn) October 5, 2022
