Israeli troops kill man in Gaza
October 16, 2015
Gaza Health Ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Kidra said Israel's military opened fire on Palestinians on Friday, killing one man and wounding dozens. A reporter for Palestine TV also said that the troops had shot a cameraman in the leg when they opened fire on the protest.
Al-Kidra said that 19-year-old Abdul Qadir Farhat had died "after he was shot directly in the head by the military in clashes close to the Beit Hanoun crossing in northern Gaza. He added that troops had wounded about 30 others, "among them 14 shot with live ammunition."
Al-Kidra said that doctors had treated others for exposure to tear gas. Some of the protesters attempted to throw the gas canisters back at the troops (pictured).
Another man died in Gaza Friday from wounds sustained in a clash a week ago. Since the beginning of October, soldiers and police loyal to the government of Israel have killed at least 35 Palestinians, some of whom had been involved in attacks, others who were alleged to be, and some of whom were children. Troops have wounded hundreds.
Earlier on Friday, troops killed a man posing as a journalist after he wounded an Israeli soldier with a knife in the West Bank city of Hebron. The soldiers then threw stun grenades to disperse gathered journalists.
Abbas condemns attacks
On Friday, President Mahmoud Abbas condemned protesters for setting fire to a Jewish shrine in the West Bank city of Nablus as calls for a "Day of Rage" sent Israel's police to the Palestinian territory to confront demonstrators. Abbas called for the immediate repair of the holy site, which many Jews believe serves as the final resting place of the biblical figure Joseph, son of the patriarch Jacob.
Abbas "stressed his rejection of these actions and all actions that violate law and order, and which distort our culture, our morals and our religion," according to a statement from his office released Friday.
Footage released by local media early Friday showed flames leaping from the small stone structure. Palestinian security forces extinguished the fire soon after it started. Officials from Israel's army have condemned the arson as a "despicable act."
Gun, knife and car attacks in Jerusalem and the West Bank have left seven Israelis dead and dozens wounded. The security cabinet decided to block off Arab neighborhoods in east Jerusalem to keep Palestinians from predominantly Jewish areas.
US Secretary of State John Kerry has said he plans to travel to the Middle East soon to try to calm the violence. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he hoped to meet with Abbas to help restore calm.
mkg/msh (Reuters, AFP, dpa, AP)