Palestinian reportedly killed at West Bank rally for security prisoners' hunger strike
20-year-old Palestinian reportedly killed after participating in protest in support of the hunger strike; While Palestinian Health Ministry claims he was shot by IDF forces in stomach, Israeli military claims soldiers aimed for legs when dispersing 150 protestors throwing rocks at them.
The Palestinian Health Ministry reported that a 20-year-old Palestinian Saba Abid was killed Friday by IDF forces at a rally in the West Bank village of Nabi Salih near Ramallah, which aimed to show support of the Palestinian security prisoners currently engaged in a hunger strike.
The ministry further claimed that Israeli soldiers had opened fire on protestors after dozens of Palestinians began hurling rocks at them, and the Abid shot in his stomach. He was treated by the Red Crescent, which rushed him to the Palestinian West Bank city of Salfit for treatment, where he eventually succumbed to his wounds.
The IDF, however, claimed that some 150 Palestinians had been disrupting the peace at soldiers, who aimed at their legs as part of efforts to disperse the protestors.
Hundreds of Palestinian security prisoners in Israel are currently on an open-ended strike, now in its 26th day, saying they seek to improve their prison conditions.
Israel stated that the strike's leader, convicted terrorist Marwan Barghouti, is using it to raise his profile among Palestinians. Barghouti is considered a potential successor to current Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Last Sunday, Israel released video footage showing Barghouti breaking the hunger strike with cookies and salt. Palestinians say the video is a fabrication.
Barghouti is serving five life terms after being convicted of directing several deadly terrorist attacks.
