Israeli Soldiers Shot and Wounded Unarmed Palestinian Near West Bank Settlement
Army confirms the man was not carrying a weapon at the time of the incident, says he appeared to be reaching for a knife, prompting forces to respond
Israeli soldiers shot and gravely wounded a Palestinian man on Tuesday close to the town of Salfit in the West Bank, located near the settlement of Ariel.
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The soldiers fired at the Palestinian despite the fact that he was not carrying a knife. Earlier Tuesday afternoon, the army reported an "attempted stabbing attack near Salfit." The initial report was not followed up with further details.
The military later claimed that a Palestinian man tried to stab soldiers at a post near an army outpost in the area, adding that the soldiers opened fire and wounded him. He was transferred to receive medical treatment at an Israeli hospital in Petah Tikva.
The IDF Spokesperson's Unit said late Tuesday afternoon that the man who was shot did not carry a knife, but that he was among a group of Palestinians "who are suspected of an attempt to attack on the border."
The army said that the group "got close to troops and one of them put his hand in his pocket in a manner that looked like he was about to pull out a knife. In response, the force carried out a shooting, which hit him. The suspect was treated at the scene by the IDF and was evacuated for further treatment at the hospital."