Palestinian Suspected Car Thief Shot After Attempting to Ram Checkpoint

A Palestinian man driving a stolen car tried early Tuesday morning to force his way through the Hashmonaim checkpoint, according to Israeli police and video shared on social media. The incident took place shortly after 8:00 a.m. on Highway 446, as the vehicle approached the crossing and attempted to bypass the waiting line.

In the footage, the car is seen squeezing between vehicles, mounting the curb, and continuing in a reckless drive past the checkpoint. It then hit an obstacle on the sidewalk and, when officers and security guards moved in to open the doors, the driver shifted into reverse, backed up, and struck vehicles that were stuck in traffic.

Police said officers and guards opened fire only after they feared for their lives. The force said the suspect first tried to break through the checkpoint, hit police vehicles, and then attempted to run over the officers at the scene. The driver was wounded by the gunfire, pulled from the car, arrested on site, and taken for medical treatment.

The suspect was identified by police as a Palestinian resident of Bethlehem. Investigators are still examining the circumstances of the incident.