An IDF soldier who was shot and critically wounded at a base in the Jordan Valley was apparently hit by a bullet fired from a weapon that had been used in target practice a short time earlier.
The wounded soldier was found at around 10pm Tuesday by comrades in a relatively secluded area of the base.
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IDF officers at the entrance to Hadassah Medical Center, Ein Kerem after the wounded soldier was taken there on Tuesday night
(Photo: Gil Yohanan)
He was lying on the ground suffering from head injuries initially believed to have been caused by stones thrown at him. A preliminary investigation later showed that he was hit by an IDF bullet.
The soldier was taken to Hadassah Medical Center, Ein Kerem in Jerusalem. He was rushed into surgery, where it was discovered that his wounds had been caused by gunfire.
His family were notified and dashed to the hospital.
The investigation showed that the base had been used for training by troops preparing for operational deployment in the Gaza Division.
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IDF troops at the entrance to Hadassah Medical Center, Ein Kerem after the wounded soldier was taken there on Tuesday night
(Photo: Gil Yohanan)
After the troops had finished using the shooting range, the platoon commander unloaded their weapons and placed them near the company guard's position.
A commanding officer then picked up one of the weapons, and pointed it at the area where the soldier was walking with a comrade in the area of the clinic on the base.
At that point a bullet apparently discharged and hit the soldier in the head, causing him to collapse and lose consciousness.
Last week, an IDF soldier at a base in the Modi'in area sustained a minor head injury from an apparent misfire of a weapon.
First published: 10:56, 02.24.21