IDF Soldier Opens Fire on Palestinian Standing Still in West Bank

An unusual video from the area of the Palestinian village of Fiqou'a, east of Jenin, shows the moment an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldier fired at a Palestinian man standing just meters away. The footage depicts the Palestinian standing in place, looking aside, before three shots are heard and he is hit. The Palestinian was evacuated by the Red Crescent to a hospital.

The incident occurred after a report of "friction" between Israeli civilians and Palestinians in the area. According to an initial IDF investigation, several Palestinians gathered around a shepherd in the area, and a force of regular soldiers, reinforced for the holiday, arrived. The IDF stated that the force "fired into the air and at a Palestinian." The initial probe suggests soldiers first fired into the air, and later fired at the lower body of the Palestinian. The army did not claim the injured Palestinian posed a threat to the force, and the reason for the shooting is still under investigation.

Hours after the video was released, a security source told Ynet that the incident is being investigated to determine if the soldier "deviated from open-fire instructions." The IDF confirmed, "The incident is being investigated by commanders and its findings will be transferred for review by the authorized bodies."

However, a different account was presented by the Zait Farm in the Gilboa region, which claims the incident took place on grazing land designated to them by the regional brigade. "Dozens of Arabs came out of the village of Fiqou'a to attack our shepherd who went out to graze. Three soldiers stationed at the farm for the holiday responded to the incident," they stated. Farm representatives claim the force commander set a line the Palestinians were forbidden to cross, but "the entire crowd continued to approach with stones in their hands." They assert the soldiers initially fired into the air, but the Palestinians continued to approach "to weapon-snatching distance." The farm also claimed that during the incident, they were in phone contact with the battalion and that "the soldier received authorization to fire at the leg, and from there they retreated."