The Israel Defence Forces has said that there is a "high probability" that a soldier accidentally shot and killed a 16-year-old Palestinian girl during a counterterrorism raid on Sunday evening.
Jana Majdi Assam Zakarna, 16, was found dead with a gunshot wound to the head on the roof of her home in the West Bank city of Jenin, according to Palestinian news agency Wafa.
The IDF was conducting counterterrorism operations in the Palestinian city on Sunday evening, and the military said that an initial investigation has found that Zakarna was shot by a sniper firing at Palestinian gunmen on a nearby rooftop.
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Jana Majdi Assam Zakarna, 16, who was shot and killed during an IDF raid in the West Bank city of Jenin (Photo via social media)
In a statement on Monday afternoon, the IDF said: “Following a preliminary investigation, it was found that there is indeed a high probability that the girl who was killed was hit by an accidental shot fired at armed men on a roof in the area, from which shots were fired at the forces."
“It appears the girl who was killed had been on the roof of one of the houses near the gunmen."
The IDF added that it arrested 18 people, including three wanted terror suspects, during the operation, and that suspects "hurled explosives and fired heavily at the soldiers. The suspects also hurled Molotov cocktails at the forces from various areas, including roofs of houses."
The military also forcefully rejected claims that the killing of Zakarna was intentional, calling the accusations "implausible and without foundation."
It added: "The IDF and its commanders regret any harm to uninvolved civilians, including those who are in a combat environment and in close proximity to armed terrorists during exchanges of fire.
"The security forces will continue to conduct counterterrorism activities wherever necessary while making efforts to avoid harm to uninvolved civilians."
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Palestinian gunmen and mourners attending the funeral of Jana Zakarneh in Jenin on Monday (Photo by Nasser Ishtayeh/Flash90)
The military also investigated if Zakarna had potentially assisted the gunmen by observing or filming the Israeli forces during the raid, according to The Times of Israel.
On Monday, outgoing Defence Minister Benny Gantz expressed his sadness at Zakarna's death, saying: "First, I express my sorrow for her death, as for any death of someone who was not involved in terrorism, if that was indeed the case.
"The matter is under investigation and I can assure you of one thing, unlike those who stand by the roads with weapons, stones, and Molotov cocktails, waiting for an opportunity to murder Israeli girls and boys, women, elderly and children, IDF soldiers do not shoot deliberately at uninvolved people."
He added: "The IDF will continue to act to thwart terrorism, anywhere and at any time while adhering to the open-fire rules. "The commanders and soldiers have full support to continue to fulfill their mission with professionalism and determination.”
On Tuesday morning, a UK Foreign Office minister expressed concern about the ongoing instability in the West Bank.
Speaking in the House of Commons, David Rutley MP said: "As a friend of Israel, we have a regular dialogue on human rights in all matters relating to the occupation. This includes encouraging the government of Israel to abide by its obligations under international law.
"We are concerned [about] instability in the West Bank and call on all sides to work together to urgently deescalate the situation."
Videos being shared on social media show Israeli troops exiting a van and going into what appears to be a storefront, and then later exiting with a number of Palestinians with bound hands.
#شاهد لحظة إستهداف جيب عسكري يتبع للاحتلال بعبوة متفجرة في مدينة #جنين pic.twitter.com/DAVZmPsq7Z
— Newpress | نيو برس (@NewpressPs) December 11, 2022
ABOVE: An IDF jeep is blown up during a raid in the West Bank
Heavy gunfire is audible, as well as explosions. No Israeli troops were injured, the IDF said.
The incident comes as the IDF continues conducting near-nightly raids in Jenin and the West Bank following a wave of terror that has hit Israel this year, including most recently a double-bombing in Jerusalem, as well as a number of shooting, ramming, and knife attacks.
The IDF has made over 2,500 arrests in that period, and more than 165 Palestinians have been killed.
The military also added that this year has seen 300 shootings and stabbing attempts made against Israeli civilians and soldiers compared to 91 last year, a 230 per cent increase.
