Israeli forces have shot dead two Palestinian teenagers near Ramallah in the West Bank today after protests against Israel’s bombing of the Gaza Strip, according to Palestinian officials.
The deaths brought the number of Palestinians killed since Hamas attacked Israel to at least 64 in the West Bank.
Hundreds of Palestinians have flooded the streets of major West Bank cities including Ramallah (pictured), mourning the deaths of those killed in an explosion at the al Alhi hospital in Gaza last night.
Israel is preparing a ground assault in Gaza in retaliation for the deadly attack by Hamas on 7 October, which killed 1,400 Israelis, mostly civilians.
For context: The powerful armed Lebanon-based group Hezbollah called for a day of “unprecedented anger” in protest against Israel and Joe Biden’s visit today.
Late last night the group accused Israel of attacking the al Ahli Hospital, where Gaza officials say 471 people died in an explosion.
Israel has denied responsibility, accusing the Palestinian Islamic Jihad of misfiring a rocket launch. The militant group denies any involvement.
Protests erupted overnight in the West Bank, Jordan, Turkey, Iran, Iraq and outside the US embassy in Lebanon, where tear gas was fired.
Displacement of Palestinians ‘red line that shouldn’t be crossed’
The Palestinian leadership has called the forced displacement of Gaza residents a “red line” that should not be crossed.
Israel ordered 1.1 million Palestinians to flee to the south last week as it prepares for an expected offensive on the ground.
Many are now sheltering in hospitals and camps in southern Gaza after having to leave their homes.
In a statement, the Palestinian leadership it considered the idea of displacement “a red line that we will not allow to be crossed, just as the displacement of Palestinians from their homes in Jerusalem or the West Bank should not be allowed”.