Palestinians Cancel Peace Talk Meeting After Israel Attacks Refugee Camp

Three Killed, 16 Wounded in Attack on West Bank Camp

Palestinian officials say that they have cancelled a planned meeting, part of the nascent peace talks with Israel, after Israeli troops attacked a Palestinian refugee camp in the occupied West Bank.

According to Israeli officials, troops entered the camp to capture a “suspect,” but wound up killing three people and wounding 16 others. One of the slain, Younis Jahjouh, had previously been released by Israel in a prisoner exchange.

Israel presented the killings as self defense, claiming they retaliated against “rioters.” The use of live ammunition against bystanders, however, has witnesses saying that the troops clearly came with an intent to cause casualties.

A spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas criticized the attack, urging the US to get Israel back in line before the talks collapse entirely. The US hasn’t commented specifically on the demand, but denied the already confirmed reports of a cancelled meeting.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.