An Arab-Israeli citizen was critically wounded Thursday night after the IDF fired at his car at a roadblock near Hebron. The injured man was taken to the Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center in Jerusalem. The IDF has launched an inquiry into the incident.
The man, driving on Route 60, encountered a surprise roadblock set up by reserves troops in order to check suspicious vehicles. For an unclear reason, the soldiers thought the driver was trying to break through the roadblock and fired at him. He sustained head wounds and was taken to the Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center on an IDF intensive care vehicle.
The Etzion Brigade's deputy commander later arrived at the scene and began probing the incident. The IDF is looking into a possibility that the driver did not notice the improvised roadblock and as a result speeded towards it, which aroused the soldiers' suspicion. The other possibility is that the driver intentionally tried to target the troops.
Military sources said that the IDF is on high alert following Wednesday's shooting incident nearMevo Dotan.
An Islamic Jihad militant began firing at a Nahal Haredi post prompting the soldiers to fire back. He was killed as a result. Security elements said that the militant has been arrested twice in the past few years over his involvement in terrorist activity.