The town of Tal, which is close to the illegal Israeli settlement of Havat Gilad, was attacked by Israeli settlers earlier on Friday, local and security sources said. The settlers opened live fire before clashes broke out, as Palestinians tried to protect their homes.
Essam Saifi, a local leader in the Palestinian Fatah party from Tal, told the Reuters news agency in a phone call that about 25 to 30 Israeli settlers initially attacked the eastern area of the town and tried to break into two houses there. The residents came out to confront them and the settlers opened fire.
Half an hour later, Saifi said, the Israelis returned and attacked the western part of the town, striking a child with a weapon. This caused chaos, and the Israeli military arrived and started shooting, along with the settlers, he added.
The Israeli army, however, said it had dispatched troops to the area near the Havat Gilad following what it called “an attack on Israelis hiking in the area”.
The military claimed a Palestinian had stolen a weapon from local security personnel and fired at the Israeli settlers.