JERUSALEM / AA

The Israeli rights center:

- Israeli soldiers killed the two Palestinians on Monday in the village of Deir Jarir in the central West Bank and provided protection for settlers who stole dozens of sheep.

- The international community continues to grant Israel impunity, allowing settler attacks to continue under army and police protection.

The Israeli rights center B'Tselem confirmed on Monday that what happened in the village of Deir Jarir in the occupied central West Bank on Sunday evening is an example of Israel encouraging ethnic cleansing against the Palestinian people.

The center said in a statement: "During a joint raid carried out by settlers, soldiers and police in the village of Deir Jarir in the Ramallah district on Sunday night, soldiers opened fire on Ahmed Abu Mukho (26 years old) and Ouda Farakhna (53 years old), killing them and wounding three others."

The center added that one of the wounded is still in the hospital in serious condition.

It continued that "the forces accompanied the settlers during the raid on the village and helped them steal dozens of sheep."

The center released a video clip captured by a camera mounted on an ambulance, which it said documents the moment of shooting at Abu Mukho, who was wounded in the lower abdomen and later died of his injuries.

** Ethnic Cleansing

The center's executive director, Yuli Novak, said in the statement that "the killing in Deir Jarir is an example of how Israel encourages ethnic cleansing in the West Bank."

She added: "Settlers invade and loot Palestinian lands, while the army and police accompany them and open fire on Palestinians trying to protect their homes and property."

She continued: "The international community continues to grant Israel impunity, allowing this mechanism to continue," referring to ethnic cleansing.

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