Israeli forces have shot and killed a Palestinian in the southern West Bank province of al-Khalil (Hebron) after he allegedly carried out a stabbing attack against an Israeli soldier.
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At least 208 Palestinians, including children and women, have lost their lives at the hands of Israeli forces in what is regarded as the third Palestinian Intifada (uprising) since the beginning of last October.
Following the explosion, there were minor clashes between Israeli soldiers and Palestinians near al-Manara Square in central Ramallah.
The Israeli army did not immediately respond to Ma’an’s request for comment.
An Israeli soldier who shot a Palestinian assailant in Hebron sits in a military court hearing in Tel Aviv, April 5, 2016.
According to Israeli news outlet Ynet, a small group of Azarya’s supporters demonstrated outside the courtroom, chanting “whoever kills terrorists is an Israeli hero”. According to the reports, the soldier’s attorneys are attempting to work out a plea deal to either reduce the charges even further, or to ensure that he will not be required to serve time.
The military says the raid was an operation “to confiscate terror funds” but did not elaborate which groups the money exchanger is suspected of funding.
Despite his initial condemnation of the killing, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later backtracked under pressure from Israel’s prominent right-wing political community.
Nearly 30 Israelis have also been killed in the violence, which has seen a wave of knife, car, and shooting attacks by Palestinians and Palestinian citizens of Israel.
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The Israeli soldier who shot dead a subdued Palestinian assailant in Hebron will be charged with manslaughter, the military prosecution announced on Thursday in the military court in Jaffa.
