Top Issue 1-2024

22 May 2012

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Israeli settlers shoot Palestinian as Israeli troops watch

One of the settlers uses a Tavor rifle during the incident – weapons only issued to Israeli infantry troops

A SHOCKING VIDEO from the West Bank Palestinian town of Asira al-Qibliya shows Israeli settlers shoot a Palestinian civilian in the head while Israeli troops look on.

The footage was uploaded to YouTube by a volunteer photographer with Israeli human rights group B’Tselem. The incident occurred after armed settlers descended from their illegal hilltop settlement of Yitzhar alongside Israeli troops at around 5pm on Saturday afternoon. The settlers claimed that Palestinians had lit fires around their outposts.

The amateur footage appears to show the settlers throwing rocks at Palestinians on the outskirts of the town before being met with a reply of stones from local youths who rushed from their homes to confront the men.

The footage then shows two Israeli settlers open fire on Fathi Asayira (24). He is shot in the head and later seen being carried away injured to a waiting emergency vehicle by locals.

Israeli troops present during the confrontation appear to make no attempt to stop the settlers from firing on the Palestinians. One of the settlers uses a Tavor rifle during the incident – weapons only issued to Israeli infantry troops, raising suspicions that some of the settlers may have been off-duty soldiers.

The injured man is said to be in a stable condition in hospital.

Sarit Mitchell, director B’Tselem, said:

“The video footage raises grave suspicions that the soldiers present did not act to prevent the settlers from throwing stones and firing live ammunition at the Palestinians.

“The [settler attack] itself is not unusual but it is rare for settlers to open fire. They have no authority to use live ammunition but, in any case, you can see this was not a life-threatening situation. And most severe of all, several soldiers are standing by and letting this happen.”

The Israeli military said it is investigating the incident but claimed “the video in question does not reflect the incident in its entirety”.

cleardot.gifThe video can be found here: http://youtu.be/IgeQzvIirvQ

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