RAMALLAH: Israel’s security forces said they killed a Palestinian, identified by Hamas as one of its fighters, in a raid in the occupied West Bank city of Qalqilya before dawn on Tuesday.
The Ramallah-based Palestinian ministry of health said a young man it identified as 19-year-old Baraa Yusuf was killed by Israeli forces in the early morning in Qalqilya.
In a joint statement, Israel’s police, military and internal intelligence agency said Israeli forces killed a Palestinian “who was planning an imminent attack” in a raid carried out “during the night.”
They said the target of the raid “intended to carry out an attack against Israeli civilians in the immediate future” and began firing at police officers, who returned fire, killing him.
The statement said two other individuals “were neutralized” during the exchange of fire, in which Israeli forces used “shoulder-launched missiles, an explosive drone, and live ammunition.”
The official Palestinian news agency Wafa cited Palestinian security sources as saying that the Israeli army opened fire on Yusuf while he was inside a shop, wounding two other Palestinians after he refused to surrender.
Hamas said on Telegram that Yusuf, known as “Miskawi,” was a member of its armed wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades.
He had been released in November 2023 as part of a hostage-prisoner exchange deal between Hamas and Israel during an early truce in the war in Gaza.
Violence has soared throughout the West Bank since the war in Gaza broke out.
Israeli troops or settlers have killed at least 913 Palestinians, including many militants, in the West Bank since the start of the war, according to the Palestinian health ministry.
At least 32 Israelis, including soldiers, have been killed in Palestinian attacks or Israeli military operations, according to official Israeli figures.

AMMAN: Jordan has introduced new regulations for entry to the country that are designed, officials said, to enhance the country’s appeal as a global tourism and investment hub.

The revised measures, part of Jordan’s Economic Modernization Vision, were announced on Tuesday by Tareq Majali, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior. He said the new policies simplify entry requirements for many foreign nationals, making it easier for visitors and investors to visit Jordan.

The updated regulations mean that residents of Gulf Cooperation Council countries, the US, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea and all European nations can now enter Jordan without prior approval, provided they hold residency permits in those countries valid for at least four months, the Jordan News Agency reported

The ministry has also expanded entry eligibility for Syrian nationals, allowing them to enter from all European countries rather than restricting them only to those that are members of the EU. In addition, citizens of South Sudan and Libya will no longer require prior approval to enter, in an attempt to bolster medical tourism and capitalize on the strong healthcare sector in Jordan.

In a further move to ease entry requirements, Jordan will permit foreign nationals who require prior approval to be assessed based on the entry conditions of their countries of residence, as long as they hold a residency permit valid for at least four months. Holders of Schengen and US visas will also be granted entry to Jordan, even if those visas have not been used previously.

A highlight of the new regulations is the introduction of a five-year, multiple-entry visa, issued at border crossings, that will allow holders to remain in Jordan for up to three months per visit without requiring them to report to security centers.

In a related move, domestic workers who accompany either Jordanian sponsors who reside in the Gulf or citizens of GCC countries will be eligible for a three-month temporary residency permit. This is designed to facilitate visits by Jordanian expatriates and their regional counterparts.

Majali encouraged travelers to make use of the electronic services provided by the ministry through its official website to streamline entry procedures.