IDF Probes Soldier's Fire on Palestinian Near Jenin

An Israeli military official stated Saturday that the IDF is investigating a live fire incident near Jenin, where a soldier shot a Palestinian man. The shooting occurred near the village of Faqu'a, east of Jenin, following a report of a "friction" between Israeli civilians and Palestinians. Video footage shows the Palestinian looking away before three shots are heard. The Palestinian, who was injured, was evacuated by the Red Crescent to a hospital. The IDF initially did not claim the Palestinian posed a threat to the forces. The military stated that IDF forces at the scene fired into the air and then at the Palestinian after dozens of Arabs emerged from Faqu'a to attack an Israeli shepherd in a grazing area. The military added that the friction began when Palestinians gathered around the shepherd. An IDF force, reinforced for the holiday, arrived at the scene, and after firing into the air, fired towards the lower body of a Palestinian. The investigation is focused on whether the soldier "deviated from the rules of engagement." A nearby farm, Zait Farm in Gilboa, claimed that the incident occurred in its grazing area and that the crowd approached the soldiers with stones, prompting the initial air fire, which continued even as the crowd advanced to within "snatching distance of a weapon."