Paramedics from the Palestinian Red Crescent Society said
that 25-year-old Khaldoun Majid Al-Samoudi of the village of Yamoun, to the
west of Jenin, died from his wounds after he was critically injured by Israeli
soldiers manning the Bekaot checkpoint (Al-Hamra checkpoint), to the east of
Nablus. They added that Al-Samoudi was shot numerous times.
Palestinian witness said that the Israeli soldiers fired at
Al-Samoudi while he was crossing the checkpoint to his work in the city of
Jericho.
Witnesses said Israeli soldiers watched Al-Samoudi bleed out
instead of providing medical assistance.
The Israeli security sources said that the Palestinian man
got out of a cab and approached the checkpoint yelling “Allahu Akbar.” Thee
sources said the man wore a long coat and soldiers suspected he might be hiding
explosives. The soldiers ordered the suspect to stop before opening fire.
According to Israeli sources, Al-Samoudi had a pipe bomb on
his body.
The Palestinian Authority described the incident as “another
Israeli war crime and killing in cold blood ... such attacks constitute a
blatant violation against human rights guaranteed by international law, mainly
(pertaining to) the freedom of movement and work.”
On Jan. 2, Israeli soldiers shot dead Ahmed Daraghmeh on the
same checkpoint while he was traveling to his work also in Jericho. At the
time, Israel said that the man, who was carrying a Coca-Cola bottle, was about
to attack the soldiers. The Palestinians later stressed that he was unarmed.
On Friday, Israeli forces accidentally shot to death Hebron
resident Omar Al-Qawasmi, while they were on the way to detain a Hamas member
living one floor beneath Al-Qawasmi. The soldiers claimed the victim tried to
attack them, but his family said he was sleeping in his bed while the incident
occurred.
Palestinian woman Jawaher Abu-Rahmeh died on Friday after
inhaling tear gas during an anti-separation wall protest in West Bank city of
Bil’in.
The PA controls the West
Bank. People moving between the territory’s areas are required to pass through
Israeli checkpoints, especially when entering C areas where Israel has security
and administrative authority. The PA-controlled A and B areas make up nearly 38
percent of the West Bank.
