Mustafa Mughal
An Israeli soldier was killed in a shooting on Saturday night in occupied East Jerusalem.
According to Israeli media reports, a suspected Palestinian gunman approached the checkpoint leading to Shuafat refugee camp around 9 pm local time and fired at Israeli forces standing guard.
An Israeli soldier identified as Noa Lazar, 18, was pronounced dead from her wounds later in the night.
Another Israeli guard was seriously wounded and taken to Hadassah Medical Centre in Jerusalem, which on Sunday said he remained in severe condition.
A large manhunt was launched to find the shooter, who is believed to be from the Shuafat refugee camp.
Khedir al-Dibbs, an activist and member of the Shuafat Camp Popular Committee, said that life in the camp and surrounding areas has been completely “crippled” by an Israeli shutdown.
“Things are likely to escalate with this collective punishment being exercised on us by the army” said Khedir al-Dibbs.
Entrances and exits to the camp, which is cut off from the city centre by Israel’s separation wall, have been closed off as Israeli forces began search raids in the area. At least five army vehicles carrying hundreds of soldiers were brought in to the camp, according to Dibbs.
A population of around 100,000 has been “besieged”, Dibbs added, with no one allowed in or out, including medics and workers, and schools have been shut down.
“It has been getting worse by the minute since last night,” Dibbs said on Sunday.
“Things are likely to escalate with this collective punishment being exercised on us by the army”, he added.
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