The Palestinian Authority estimates that around 225 Palestinians will be killed in 2022 at the hands of Israeli forces

2 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) –

The Palestinian authorities have estimated this Thursday at about 225 the number of Palestinians killed in 2022 at the hands of the Israeli security forces and settlers residing in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, amid the rise in tensions in the area.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health has indicated in a report that 224 Palestinians fell “martyrs” in 2022, before specifying that there are 53 minors among them. Thus, it has pointed out that 171 people died in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, while 53 did so in the Gaza Strip.

It has also indicated that more than 10,500 Palestinians were injured, including 2,027 who had to be hospitalized –1,644 in the West Bank and East Jerusalem and 383 in the Gaza Strip–, before specifying that 38 percent suffered gunshot wounds in The upper part of the body.

The ministry has pointed out in its account on the social network Facebook that 45 percent of the wounded were shot and added that “this indicates an intention on the part of the occupation to cause serious damage, many of which resulted in deaths.”

“Medical personnel and facilities did not escape unscathed from the Israeli aggression, as the Ministry of Health has documented 171 attacks against medical personnel and ambulances,” he pointed out.

Tensions in the area have risen in recent weeks following the death of around 30 Palestinians so far this year in security operations and clashes with Israeli security forces.

The most recent escalation took place last week when a dozen Palestinians were killed in a raid in the West Bank city of Jenin. After that, seven Israelis were killed in an attack in the Neve Yaakov settlement and two others were injured when they were shot by a thirteen-year-old Palestinian.