Shooting Israeli Patrol Forces From Inside Vehicles, Palestinians Killed In The West Bank

Israeli military illustration. (Wikimedia Commons/IDF spokesman Unit)

JAKARTA - Israeli troops shot dead a Palestinian in a car they were chasing in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday, Palestinian paramedics said. The Israeli military (IDF) said troops shot a Palestinian who opened fire on them from a vehicle.

The incident follows several Palestinian attacks on Israel in recent weeks. Palestinians have also complained of attacks by Israeli settlers, whose residences in the West Bank are considered illegal by the international community.

In a statement, the military said soldiers came under attack from a passing vehicle while on patrol looking for Palestinians seen approaching the Jewish settlement in Psagot.

"Troops responded with fire and hit the attackers," the military said, adding that no soldiers were injured in the incident, citing Reuters December 23.

Meanwhile, Palestinian medics said the troops chased a car to the entrance of the refugee camp and then opened fire, wounding the Palestinian man in the back. They said he was taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Medics said they did not know if he had taken part in the alleged attack on Israeli troops.

A moment later, dozens of Palestinian protesters gathered around the IDF soldiers, who responded by breaking up the demonstration, reports The Jerusalem Post. The IDF is currently searching for other suspected Palestinians in the area.

The violence came a day after Israeli soldiers shot dead a Palestinian motorist they suspected of trying to drive his vehicle into a military checkpoint near the West Bank settlement of Mevo Dotan.

Separately, Tor Wennesland, the United Nations Middle East Peace Envoy last week expressed concern, given the recent escalation in violence on both sides, saying the situation had become "volatile."