Israel Matzav

Revenant who didn't stop for roadblock killed near Otniel

A resident of Otniel, south of Hebron, was killed and three passengers in his car were wounded when they did not stop for a makeshift IDF roadblock early Friday morning and the soldiers opened fire. A soldier was also wounded when he was hit by a truck driven by a 'Palestinian' while the soldiers were standing in the roadway. The 'Palestinian' escaped.

An initial investigation suggests that a guard in the Beit Hagai settlement detected a vehicle driving along Route 60 in a suspicious manner at around 5 am, and reported this to IDF forces. A military source said that the IDF quickly set up a makeshift roadblock several kilometers north of where the car was spotted.

The source further added that the soldiers noticed a car moving towards them at great speed and in a suspicious manner. Fearing for their lives, they acted according to procedure and opened fire at the vehicle.

At the same time, a truck driving in the opposite direction hit one of the soldiers who were on the road, causing him light wounds. The truck continued to drive on. IDF forces are working to trace the truck, which apparently belongs to a Palestinian man. Judea and Samaria rescue forces treated the wounded before Medical Corps and MDA teams arrived at the scene.

Central Command chief Major-General Avi Mizrahi ordered an inquiry into the incident, which occurred near a sensitive stretch of road connecting south Hebron and Kfar Yatta. The location saw many past terror attacks and forces are regularly deployed there

Yoni Silman, an MDA paramedic said: "The victim suffered a head injury and was already dead when we arrived. We treated a few more victims, including a 45-year-old woman who was shot in the hip and sustained mild wounds."

The driver of the car, who was killed, was a 60-year old man. Sunrise was just after 6:00 on Friday morning, so the incident took place in pre-dawn light and the driver may not have made eye contact with the soldiers.

Labels: Hebron, IDF

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 8:18 AM