RAMALLAH: A deadly incident in the West Bank in which a Palestinian was shot at close range by an Israeli policeman has led to fierce debates on social media.
There were accusations from the Palestinian side of a "cold-blooded execution" of the 22-year-old near Nablus on Friday. Israeli police, on the other hand, said the Palestinian was armed with a knife. He had first tried to enter the vehicle of an Israeli couple. He was then shot by the driver, an army officer on leave. He then inflicted a deep cut on the temple of a nearby policeman.
Another policeman tried to arrest the attacker. The video shows a fight between the two, with two other men involved as well.
According to Israeli police, the Palestinian tried to snatch the rifle from the policeman. The gun can be seen falling to the ground. The policeman then pulls out a handgun and shoots the Palestinian. He feared for his life and the lives of others in the vicinity, the policeman said.
The Palestinian news agency Wafa wrote that the Palestinian was hit by four bullets. Israeli soldiers had prevented Palestinian ambulances from reaching the scene, it wrote.
UN special envoy Tor Wennesland wrote in a tweet that he was "horrified" by the killing of the Palestinian. "Such incidents must be fully and promptly investigated, and those responsible held accountable." - dpa
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