IDF forces in Nablus
Photo: Reuters
IDF Force shoots dead Palestinian ‘against orders’
Udawi Tantawi, 13, of the Askar refugee camp near Nablus, was killed Friday evening by an IDF force. Soldiers said they thought Tantawi was armed and opened fire in his direction. An initial IDF investigation found that soldiers opened fire against orders
An IDF force shot to death a Palestinian teenager in the Askar refugee camp by Nablus. Palestinians said that the teenager, 13 year-old Udawi Tantawi, died on Friday evening.
The IDF has said that in initial investigation into the incident showed that soldiers opened fire against orders. The IDF Spokesman Unit added that soldiers were on a routine operation in the area when Palestinians began to riot, throwing stones and bottles. The IDF force identified a Palestinian approaching them, and believed him to be armed, therefore opening fire in his direction.
After the incident, Samaria Division Commander Colonel Yuval Bezek conducted an investigation which found that soldiers operated against the IDF’s rules of engagement.
The investigation will be continued next week by the Judea and Samaria Commander, Brigadier General Yair Golan, and by Central Command Chief Yair Naveh.
At the end of the investigation, the army will decide whether to open a military criminal investigation into the incident.
The IDF Spokesman Unit said that the “IDF is distressed about the incident.”
'Pursuit without reason'
Meanwhile, Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, and Palestinian prime minister Ahmed Qureia, launched a bitter verbal attack against Israel, and criticized the killing of five armed Palestinian terrorists in recent days. Abbas blamed Israel for the escalation and called on Palestinian terror organizations to “show restraint.”
“I don’t know what lies behind this policy of the Israeli government,” said Abbas. “This a pursuit without any reason,” claimed the Palestinian leader.
Palestinian prime minister Qureia said that “the area might be dragged into a blood soaked war.”
