NABLUS, Wednesday, April 1, 2020 (WAFA) – A Palestinian youth Wednesday evening succumbed to his injuries sustained from Israeli military gunfire in last March at Mount Al-‘Arma, south of the West Bank city of Nablus, announced the Health Ministry.

The Ministry announced that Islam Dweikat, 22, succumbed to his injuries he had sustained after being hit in the head with a rubber-coated steel bullet shit by Israeli forces during confrontations at Mount Al-‘Arma, also known in Arabic as Jabal al-‘Arma.

Following his injury, Dweikat was moved to a couple of local hospitals, where he underwent several operations and stayed in a coma until he was pronounced dead this evening.

Last month, Israeli military vehicles stormed the site, on the outskirts of Beita town, and assaulted Palestinians who gathered atop the mountain to fend off an Israeli settlers’ attempt to seize it.

The confrontations killed 15-year-old Mohammad Hamayel and left 112 injuries suffering from suffocation due to inhaling tear gas fired at them by Israeli soldiers.

Residents of Beita have continued their daily sit-ins atop the mountain since Friday February 28, when settlers made the first attempt to seize the mountain and turn it into an Israeli religious tourist route.

Palestinians say settlers had been emboldened by US President Donald Trump‘s Middle East plan and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promise to annex settlements.

Jabal al-‘Arma, which spreads over 250 dunums, is one of the most archaeological sites in Nablus, and the highest peak in Beita.

According to historians, it has been inhabited since the early Bronze Age, about 3,200 years ago. Atop the mountain lie walls which indicate that an ancient castle was built there, under which seven water tanks were hewn into the rock.

However, such features make the mountain a prime target for Israeli settlers as colonial settlements are often positioned above water reserves, effectively stealing water as well as land.

K.T/ K.F.