Palestinian shot dead by Israeli forces in West Bank

HÉBRON, Palestinian Territoires — A Palestinian was shot dead by Israeli forces near the flashpoint city of Hebron in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday during what Israeli officials said was “an attack”.

Palestinian official news agency Wafa identified the dead man as Omar Awwad, 27, and said he was shot by Israeli forces near Hebron.

The health ministry confirmed he had died after being taken to hospital.

Israel said a man was shot after driving his car towards border police at a checkpoint.

A statement said Israeli forces had reached Awwad’s village Idna to take action against illegal burning of copper taking place there.

“A Palestinian car driven by the suspect tried to escape the security forces, the car hit the supervisor’s car and headed towards a border police officer who was securing the event,” a statement said.

“The officer fired at the car, hitting the man suspected of attempting to run him over,” the police statement said, confirming Awwad’s death.

In a separate incident in the northern West Bank, a Palestinian car drove towards Israeli forces involved in enforcing construction laws.

Border policemen fired in the air and apprehended the driver, a 30-year-old resident of the village Jiftlik.

Later Tuesday, Israeli forces entered the centre of the city of Ramallah, home of the Palestinian government, for the second day.

Forces closed several roads near the Palestinian finance ministry, firing tear gas and sound grenades at protesters hurling rocks.

Israeli forces in the West Bank have been on high alert since Sunday evening, when seven Israelis were wounded in a shooting at the entrance to a West Bank settlement.

A woman and her prematurely delivered baby were still in serious condition on Tuesday, a hospital spokeswoman told AFP.

“I wish a swift recovery to all those wounded,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday at a ceremony marking the operation of a new junction in the West Bank.

“We will chase down the perpetrators and settle the account with them.”

Netanyahu said the Palestinian attacks were aimed at forcing Israelis to leave the West Bank.

“We will prove to them that their will to uproot us from our land will be met with a fortified wall,” he said.

“As long as I’m prime minister of Israel, no Jew will be uprooted from his home.”

There have been sporadic Palestinian attacks against Israelis in the West Bank.

On November 26, a Palestinian rammed a car into Israeli soldiers, injuring three of them. The driver was later killed by Israeli forces.