Palestinian Shot Dead by Israeli Forces; Army Says He Threw Firebombs at Soldiers

Israeli army forces shot dead on Monday a Palestinian man the military says threw Molotov cocktails at soldiers near his West Bank village of Beit Lid. Two other men the army also accused of hurling Molotov cocktails fled the area.

Palestinian media identified the slain Palestinian as 28-year-old Samir Ahmed Hamidi, who had served time in Israeli prisons. Army forces reportedly arrived at his home in the northern West Bank following his killing.

The Israel Defense Forces’ spokesman said forces “conducting routine activity” near the settlement of Einav “identified three terrorists who threw firebombs at them. The forces responded with [live] fire, and one of the terrorists was hit.” The army added that no soldiers were injured.

In August, a 16-year-old Palestinian, Mohammed Matar, was killed by Israeli fire in the West Bank village of Deir Abu Mashal near Ramallah in a similar incident.

Two other Palestinians were injured by live fire in that incident, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

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The IDF said that Israeli soldiers "spotted a terrorist cell whose members were carrying flammable materials used to prepare firebombs," and was laying tires on the road, intending to set them on fire.