RAMALLAH, Palestine

Another Palestinian was shot dead by Israeli forces in the West Bank on Thursday, taking the toll to 373 since Oct. 7, the Health Ministry said.

A ministry statement said a 24-year-old man was killed by Israeli fire in the town of Bireh al-Basha near Jenin city.

According to eyewitnesses, Israeli forces raided the town early in the morning and besieged a house inside.

Israeli forces detained the brother of the slain young man before withdrawing from the town, witnesses said.

Tensions have been running high across the West Bank since Israel launched a deadly military offensive against the Gaza Strip following a cross-border attack by Hamas in which Israel says 1,200 people were killed.

At least 25,700 Palestinians have since been killed, mostly women and children, and over 63,740 others injured, according to Palestinian health authorities.

*Writing by Mohammad Sio