Palestinian teen shot dead at Israeli military checkpoint in stabbing attempt
Aug. 19, 2017 6:15 P.M. (Updated: Aug. 19, 2017 9:13 P.M.)
▻http://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?ID=778752
BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — Israeli border police shot and killed a Palestinian teenager at Israel’s Zaatara military checkpoint in the northern occupied West Bank on Saturday afternoon, with Israeli authorities alleging the youth attempted to carry out a knife attack on Israeli forces when he was shot.
While initial reports suggested that an Israeli soldier was lightly injured after being stabbed by the Palestinian, it was later revealed that the border police officer was in fact wounded by friendly fire.
Israel’s emergency medical service Magen David Adom reported that the MDA and Israeli army medics treated the Israeli soldier, an 18-year-old male, who was in a mild condition.
Al-Samri said that the alleged assailant, a 17-year-old Palestinian, had approached border guard forces stationed at the Nablus-area checkpoint, “and when they saw he was carrying a bag in his hand, they started undertake procedures to arrest him.”
The youth then allegedly brandished a knife “and started to battle an officer before other officers fired at him and neutralized him, and he was announced dead on the scene.” She released a statement shortly after saying the Palestinian was still alive but in a critical condition. Minutes later, a further statement confirmed he had succumbed to his injuries.
The Israeli police spokeswoman also provided a photo of the knife allegedly found on the youth, who was identified by local sources as Qutayba Ziad Zahran from Illar village in the Tulkarem district.
“A border guard police officer was taken to a hospital after he was hit by shrapnel in the foot,” al-Samri said in the statement, presumably referring to Israeli friendly fire.
An eyewitness told Ma’an that a large number of Israeli soldiers arrived to the scene and closed Zaatara checkpoint, denying passage to Palestinians in either direction.
A photo of the slain youth later circulated on social media.
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