BICOM

The IDF is carrying out further investigations after Israeli forces reportedly fatally shot a Palestinian student in the West Bank village of Budrus. Israeli soldiers were alerted to an attempted breach in the West Bank security fence and when they arrived at the scene reportedly found a Palestinian attempting to cut through the fence. When he ignored orders to stop, the soldiers opened fire. Israeli army officials said an investigation has been launched and the IDF Spokesman’s Office explained, “An infiltration attempt occurred during the morning hours near Budrus, northwest of Ramallah. An IDF force securing the fence carried out the procedure for arresting suspects, which included gunfire. Later, a report saying a Palestinian was injured from the gunfire was received. The circumstances of the incident are being examined.”

Palestinian sources named the student who was killed as 16-year-old Samir Awad. Head of the Burdus village council, Muhammad Marar told the Palestinian Maan news agency that Awad was among a group of youths leaving school following an examination, which threw stones at nearby Israeli soldiers, who responded with live fire. According to the New York Times, other Palestinian sources say that Awad was walking away from light clashes with Israeli soldiers near the security fence when three bullets hit him.

The incident comes with tension simmering in the West Bank. On Saturday IDF troops shot and killed a Palestinian man reportedly attempting to infiltrate Israel from the south Hebron hills. Last month two serious confrontations took place in Jenin and nearby Tamoun between large crowds of stone and firebomb-throwing Palestinians and Israeli troops. Meanwhile, Israel’s Shin Bet security agency recently released figures illustrating a sharp spike in Palestinian attacks on Israelis in the West Bank in November and December.