A 30-year-old Palestinian worker was shot in the leg by Israeli forces near the separation wall in the town of Al-Ram, north of Occupied Jerusalem, on Monday evening.

According to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, the man was injured after Israeli forces opened fire on a group of workers near the barrier. He was transferred to a nearby hospital for treatment. Local sources stated that the soldiers had been tracking the group, who were attempting to cross the wall, before shooting. Most of the workers escaped unharmed, but the incident has again highlighted the severe risks faced by Palestinians working near Israeli-controlled checkpoints and barriers.

The shooting occurs against a backdrop of sharply rising violence directed at Palestinian workers. Since the start of 2025, at least 15 laborers have been killed—either by direct gunfire, during falls while fleeing, or in other violent incidents near the separation wall. Hundreds more have been detained, often reporting abuse and mistreatment by Israeli authorities, who typically cite a lack of work permits as justification.

The General Union of Palestinian Workers has reported even graver figures spanning a longer period, noting that since October 2023, 42 Palestinian workers have been killed and over 32,000 have been arrested. The union characterizes this as an "unprecedented escalation" in what it calls institutionalized violence and systematic targeting of the Palestinian labor force.

Palestinian labor and human rights organizations are urgently calling for international intervention. They stress that the ongoing shootings, arrests, and alleged mistreatment constitute clear violations of international humanitarian law and fundamental human rights.

"These are not isolated incidents," a representative from a local workers' advocacy group stated. "They represent a coordinated policy of intimidation and violence aimed at Palestinian laborers, whose only 'crime' is seeking livelihood under conditions of severe economic hardship."

Analysts warn that without decisive external pressure, the cycle of harassment, detention, and lethal force is likely to intensify, further destabilizing the already fragile economy in the West Bank and deepening a growing humanitarian crisis. The international community, they argue, has thus far failed to hold Israeli authorities accountable for the escalating violence against Palestinian civilians, including workers.

Israeli military authorities have not yet issued an official statement regarding Monday's shooting in Al-Ram. (ILKHA)

(ILKHA)