Evacuating Al-Amour
Soldiers drag shot Palestinian stone-thrower who later dies
IDF explains that soldiers were under attack from other stone-throwers and moved the 18 year old quickly and without a stretcher to provide medical care from safe location; clashes ensue following day at his funeral.
Footage of IDF soldiers carrying a Palestinian man by his arms and legs—not with a stretcher—seconds after he was shot and lying motionless on the ground Monday has been widely shared on the internet. The man later died from his wounds.
The footage being shared online
Qusai Al-Amour was shot Monday by Border Police after throwing rocks at security forces during riots of Palestinian youths. The 18 year old joined the rioting at the entrance to the Palestinian village of Tekoa, nearby Bethlehem. The IDF has explained that rocks were continually being thrown at the force that evacuated the shot man, endangering them, which is why they chose to remove Al-Amour quickly and not use a stretcher.
IDF soldiers carrying Al-Amour
In the footage, IDF soldiers are seen running to Al-Amour and then carrying him by his limbs and running back to the military vehicles, some 100 meters away. Al-Amour's body is clearly seen dangling between the soldiers near to the ground and hitting it several times. His head is dangling limply, unsupported, and moving freely with the soldiers' movement. He appears to be unconscious.
The first soldier reaches Al-Amour
Even though Al-Amour was critically wounded at this point, the soldiers did not use a stretcher until they reached their vehicle, where they dragged him onto one after laying him on the ground.
Clashes during Al-Amour's funeral (Photo: EPA)
IDF medical personnel treated him, but he died from his wounds shortly thereafter. His corpse was transferred to the Red Crescent, who returned him to his family. His funeral took place on Tuesday afternoon in his village, and clashes broke out during it between IDF forces and Palestinians. The widely viewed footage caused public anger due to the way the injured man was transported.
(Photo: EPA)
The IDF commented, "During a violent public disturbance in which over 200 Palestinians took part in Tekoa, which included stone- and Molotov-cocktail-throwing at security forces, a Border Police soldier responded by firing at one of the instigators. After locating the injured, an IDF force went to the wounded man intending to provide him immediate medical attention. During the evacuation, stones were thrown at the force in a manner that endangered them, so the injured man was evacuated swiftly to a safe place where medical treatment began, at the end of which he was pronounced dead. The incident is being investigated."
