Palestinian killed, settler injured south of Hebron

Thursday March 06, 2008 11:11

by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

Palestinian medical sources reported that one resident was shot and killed on Wednesday evening during a shootout that took place near Ithna village, south of Hebron, in the southern part of the West Bank. One Israeli settler was injured in the incident.

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According to preliminary investigations carried by the Israeli army, the settler was standing with a Palestinian resident in the village and as the two stood in an open area, gunshot were fired at them from a speeding vehicle.

The Palestinian resident was immediately killed and the settler was injured in his abdomen and managed to drive his vehicle away from the scene.

The wounded settler then stopped at Tarqoumia military roadblock where he received first aid from Israeli soldiers manning the checkpoint and was transferred to Hadassah Ein Karem hospital in Jerusalem. His injuries were described as moderate-to-sever.

An Israeli military spokesperson stated that the army is probing the incident in order to determine the motives behind the attack.

Meanwhile, Palestinian sources identified the slain Palestinian as Mohammad Thiab Nofal, 40, from Ithna village.

The Al Aqsa Brigades, the armed wing of Fateh movement, claimed responsibility for the attack, and stated that it comes in retaliation to the “ongoing Israeli crimes in the Gaza Strip”.

The Brigades added that its fighters initially planned to kidnap the settler but an Israeli military vehicle was driving in the area “which caused a change in plan”.

Eyewitnesses reported that after the shooting at least 30 military vehicles invaded Ithna and clashed with dozens of youth.