Palestinians hold strike in protest at Israel’s killing of 20-year-old in West Bank

Palestinians living in the occupied territories have launched a strike in protest at the recent killing of a Palestinian young man by Israeli forces in the West Bank.

Businesses run by the Palestinians around Israel as well as Beduin schools in Negev joined the walkout on Sunday.

They were protesting the death of Sami al-Ja’aar, who was killed near a junction between the cities of Bethlehem and al-Khalil (Hebron) on January 14.

Israeli forces claim that the victim was involved in what they called a “criminal incident” and that soldiers opened fire after Ja’aar tried to flee the area.

The 20-year-old man died of his wounds in Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba.

On the same day, Israeli forces killed a 26-year-old man after they engaged in clashes with residents of the town of Rahat in Negev.

The Israeli regime has intensified its crackdown in the West Bank in recent months.

A large number of Palestinians, including minors, have been arrested during the recent months. More than 7,000 Palestinians are reportedly incarcerated in 17 Israeli prisons and detention camps.

Among the Palestinian prisoners are 18 women, 250 children, 1,500 ailing individuals, who are mostly in a critical condition, and 540 Palestinians held without any trial under the so-called administrative detention.

Administrative detention is a sort of imprisonment without trial or charge that allows Israel to jail Palestinians for up to six months. The detention order can be renewed for indefinite periods of time.