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Soldiers near the scene
Photo: Ido Erez

IDF kills Palestinian infiltrating into Barkan

Force fires warning shots at group of Palestinians approaching West Bank settlement, reports one of them carrying a weapon. After man ignores warning, force opens fire, leaving Palestinian dead. Initial scan reveals no weapon found on suspect's person

A Palestinian was shot dead by an IDF force in the West Bank settlement of Barkan Thursday morning. The soldiers said they saw a suspicious figure infiltrating the community carrying a weapon. However, no weapon was found on the deceased in an initial search.

 

The IDF force had been stationed in the area of the settlement due to a hike in infiltration and property theft, including the theft of a weapon that was recently taken from one of the residents.

 

The force spotted two or three Palestinians entering the community, and, at a distance of a few dozen meters from the houses, called on them to stop.

 

The group separated, and the soldiers reported that they spotted one of the Palestinians carrying a weapon. After the Palestinian ignored their calls to halt, they fired warning shots in the air, which were also ignored. The soldiers then fired at the figure. He was killed at the scene.

 

Military sources said that in light of the report that one of the Palestinians was carrying a weapon, and the fact that he ignored calls to halt, his intentions were unclear, and firing at him was necessary.

 

However, an initial search of the scene revealed no weapon, and the IDF is probing the incident.The army will investigate whether one of the deceased's partners managed to remove the weapon from his person, or if the soldiers meant to fire at the armed man, but hit another Palestinian instead.   


Did the soldiers follow procedure? (Photo: Ido Erez)

 

In March, four Palestinians were killed within two days in two similar incidents. IDF inquiries ruled that at least three of the deaths could have been prevented by use of better conduct and proceedings. The soldier's actions during the incidents will now be examined.

 

After Thursday's incident, the Civil Administration conveyed calming messages to Palestinian Authority officials, via the administration's head Brigadier General Yoav Mordechai. The site was visited by a joint Israeli-Palestinian team ahead of an in-depth probe into the incident.

 

The Shomron Regional Council lauded the IDF's actions in the area and spoke of the growing fear among residents in recent months, after a wave of Palestinian break-ins, and concern that the intrusions may also be used to carry out terror attacks. In light of these concerns, the IDF has been asked to boost its presence in the region.

 

One of the residents of Barkan told Ynet, "The situation is tough, and the wave of break-ins also stems from the absence of proper security of the community, which for some reason has been deemed low risk, despite the fact that there have been a number of terrorist attacks here. There is much concern."

  

Aviel Magnezi contributed to this report

 

 


פרסום ראשון: 07.22.10, 07:14
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