An IDF force wounded a 13-year-old Palestinian boy Friday near Hebron's Tel Rumeida neighborhood. Palestinian sources said the boy, Yakub Qasrawi, sustained critical wounds. The army confirmed that the boy was hurt, apparently by a rubber-coated bullet.
The Palestinian boy was treated at the scene and later taken to a Palestinian hospital, where his condition was stabilized. He is expected to be transferred to an Israeli hospital in Jerusalem later.
The incident took place as a group of Palestinian boys hurled stones at an IDF position near Hebron's Jewish community. The troops at the scene responded with crowd-dispersal means, including rubber-coated bullets. An investigation into the circumstances of the incident is under way.
The IDF said that this was the second day in a row where Palestinians riot near the same IDF position. On Thursday, Palestinians burned tires at the scene and hurled stones at the outpost, the army said.
Tensions in Hebron have remained high in the wake of the recent evacuation of a disputed house in the city. Palestinians reported that settlers hurled stones at them in several areas in town. Meanwhile, IDF troops at a roadblock in the region detained a Palestinian in possession of a knife, while forces near the Cave of the Patriarchs apprehended a Palestinian in possession of a knife and two Molotov cocktails.
Ali Waked contributed to the story