Israeli military operations in the occupied West Bank on Thursday resulted in the deaths of a Palestinian teenager and an elderly woman, marking another tragic chapter in the ongoing conflict. In the town of al-Yamoun, west of Jenin, 15-year-old Murad Fawzi Abu Seifen was fatally shot by Israeli soldiers during a raid. Reports indicate that paramedics were prevented from reaching the wounded boy, who bled for over 20 minutes before his body was taken by the troops. The Israeli army claimed the teenager had thrown an “explosive device” at their forces, though no injuries were reported among the soldiers. In a separate incident in al-Mazraa al-Gharbiya, northwest of Ramallah, 80-year-old Haniyeh Hanoun died from shock during a raid on her home. Her grandson was arrested in the same operation. Local media reported that Hanoun had pre-existing health conditions. Disturbing images from the scene showed overturned furniture and scattered belongings, while an ambulance was seen rushing to the house. Since October 2023, Israeli forces have intensified raids, air strikes, and land seizures in the West Bank, resulting in the deaths of 1,065 Palestinians and the arrest of over 20,000, including 1,600 children. Concurrently, Israeli authorities have expanded settlements, with plans for 356 new units in the Adam settlement north of Jerusalem. This expansion has been condemned as part of a broader policy to consolidate control over Palestinian territories, which international law deems illegal. The International Court of Justice has ruled Israel’s occupation as “unlawful,” and activists argue that settlements fragment the West Bank and exacerbate Palestinian hardship. Despite global criticism, Israel continues to authorize thousands of new settlement units annually, further complicating prospects for peace.