Palestinian Teen Shot by Israeli Forces Dies

A Palestinian protester seeks cover from tear gas fired by Israeli troops during clashes after a demonstration against Israel's settlements on the lands of Kafr Qaddum village, near the West Bank city of Nablus, 17 February 2023. EPA/ALAA BADARNEH
A Palestinian protester seeks cover from tear gas fired by Israeli troops during clashes after a demonstration against Israel's settlements on the lands of Kafr Qaddum village, near the West Bank city of Nablus, 17 February 2023. EPA/ALAA BADARNEH
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Palestinian Teen Shot by Israeli Forces Dies

A Palestinian protester seeks cover from tear gas fired by Israeli troops during clashes after a demonstration against Israel's settlements on the lands of Kafr Qaddum village, near the West Bank city of Nablus, 17 February 2023. EPA/ALAA BADARNEH
A Palestinian protester seeks cover from tear gas fired by Israeli troops during clashes after a demonstration against Israel's settlements on the lands of Kafr Qaddum village, near the West Bank city of Nablus, 17 February 2023. EPA/ALAA BADARNEH

A 16-year-old Palestinian died Monday from his wounds almost two weeks after being shot in the head by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian health ministry said.

The ministry announced the death of "Montaser Mohammad Theeb Shawa, 16, of his wounds, which he sustained two weeks ago by the occupation (Israeli) bullets in Balata camp" in Nablus in the northern West Bank.

According to AFP, the statement added that the "bullet penetrated his head".

Medical sources at the Rafidia hospital in Nablus said Shawa had been shot on February 8.

The Israeli army said in a statement that "on the evening of February 8... armed gunmen fired at soldiers" who secured Jewish worshipers at Joseph's Tomb, a contested religious site near the Balata refugee camp.

The force "responded with live fire", the Israeli statement said, adding without elaborating that a person had been hit.

Nablus has seen frequent clashes between Israeli troops and Palestinian militants in recent months.



Palestinians Create Role for a Vice President and Possible Abbas Successor

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas speaks during the 32nd Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) Central Council session in Ramallah on April 23, 2025. (Photo by Zain JAAFAR / AFP)
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas speaks during the 32nd Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) Central Council session in Ramallah on April 23, 2025. (Photo by Zain JAAFAR / AFP)
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Palestinians Create Role for a Vice President and Possible Abbas Successor

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas speaks during the 32nd Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) Central Council session in Ramallah on April 23, 2025. (Photo by Zain JAAFAR / AFP)
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas speaks during the 32nd Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) Central Council session in Ramallah on April 23, 2025. (Photo by Zain JAAFAR / AFP)

The Palestine Liberation Organization on Thursday announced the creation of a vice presidency under 89-year-old leader Mahmoud Abbas, who has not specified a successor.
The PLO Central Council's decision came as Abbas seeks greater relevance and a role in postwar planning for the Gaza Strip after having been largely sidelined by the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.
After a two-day meeting, the council voted to create the role of vice chairman of the PLO Executive Committee. This position would also be referred to as the vice president of the State of Palestine, which the Palestinians hope will one day receive full international recognition.
The expectation is that whoever holds that role would be the front-runner to succeed Abbas — though it’s unclear when or exactly how it would be filled. Abbas is to choose his vice president from among the other 15 members of the PLO's executive committee.