Israeli military says Palestinian teen killed by mistake after stone throwing incident

[oberliner]

JERUSALEM — A Palestinian teenager returning from a fun night out with his family at a local swimming pool was shot and killed by Israeli soldiers early Tuesday morning in what the Israeli military has now said appears to have been a mistake.

A statement from the Israeli army said that overnight three civilians were injured and multiple cars damaged after a number of Palestinian youths hurled rocks and firebombs at people traveling on Route 443. The road, which connects Israel’s main airport to Jerusalem, runs partially through the West Bank and rock-throwing incidents are common.

“Nearby forces acted to protect further civilians from being injured and pursued the suspects. From the initial inquiry, it appears that uninvolved bystanders were mistakenly hit during this pursuit,” said the army.

Lt. Col. Peter Lerner, an Israeli army spokesman, said that an investigation into the incident had been launched.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/israeli-military-says-palestinian-teen-killed-by-mistake-after-stone-throwing-incident/2016/06/21/9a3158fe-72ad-4b5d-a7b9-c6cdcc04ae8c_story.html

[oberliner]

2. More care should be taken on the part of the Israeli side

They really should not be shooting (to kill) at vehicles, even if they think the people inside may have committed a crime (which, it turned out, they hadn't).

[oberliner]

6. The attempted murderers were apprehended and arrested

The teen who was shot and killed had nothing whatsoever to do with the attack.

[oberliner]

9. I don't think it is a situation of a rogue security force deciding someone had to pay

I don't think it is a revenge killing or anything of that nature.

My assertion was that more care should have been taken so that an innocent person isn't killed.

As it stands, a Palestinian teenager who committed no crime and did nothing wrong is dead.

That is a tragedy, and if there was negligence on the Israeli side, they ought to be held accountable. Hopefully, the investigation will be able to determine that and the appropriate action will be taken.

In any case, I feel sorry for the family of the youth who was killed.

[Little Tich]

3. Law enforcement shooting at random cars should be discouraged.

But I sincerely doubt that the killer(s) will be charged - after all, the victim was just a Palestinian...

[shira]

10. That "framing" is the Palestinian cause - period.

Supporting all forms of resistance like attacks on random civilians, the absurd framing of this incident...

24-7-365

[oberliner]

11. Step back for a moment, though

An innocent Palestinian teen was shot and killed by police.

There have to be safeguards in place to prevent this sort of thing from happening.

[shira]

12. You're absolutely right. I trust the people of Israel to work it out. n/t

[Little Tich]

13. I care about the loss of innocent lives on both sides...

And I really hope the killer(s) get charged - if this would've happened in Maryland for example, I have no doubt that the cops shooting at random cars would've been charged.

There should be no double standards for Israel...

[oberliner]

7. An investigation has been opened

For what that is worth.

[Little Tich]

15. At least there's an investigation, but unfortunately the IDF investigations are mostly whitewash,

which is why B'Tselem has stopped cooperating with the IDF. I'm afraid that this might be just another example of the low moral standards of the IDF compared to other countries.

[Little Tich]

14. Haaretz: Israeli Officer Who Killed Palestinian Teen Faces Likely Punishment

Source: Haaretz

Military probe finds Mahmoud Rafat Badran, 15, was shot mistakenly after attack on Israelis, but it's too early to say whether the investigation will lead to a criminal indictment.

The Israeli army’s Central Command was continuing its investigation on Wednesday of the killing of 15-year-old Mahmoud Rafat Badran, who was shot by soldiers on the Jerusalem-Modiin road (Route 443) early Tuesday morning.

The investigation showed that the Palestinian teenager was shot when the soldiers opened fire from a range of a few dozen meters at a Palestinian car that the troops’ commander mistakenly thought was carrying those who had earlier thrown large stones and firebombs at Israeli cars traveling on the road.

The investigation is being conducted in the Binyamin Regional Brigade and the results will be presented to the Israel Defense Forces commander in the West Bank, the head of Central Command and the chief of General Staff. A Military Police investigation has also been launched, after the army made it clear that the teenager had been killed by mistake and was not involved in stone-throwing.

According to the IDF, the incident occurred around half a kilometer east of the Maccabim checkpoint, in the Jerusalem-bound lane, where five Palestinian youths set an ambush for Israeli vehicles near an interchange that connects the road to Palestinian villages and passes under Route 443. The youths spread rocks on the road and poured some 20 liters of oil on the asphalt as well. When cars approached and noticed the stones, they slowed down and were then attacked with stones and firebombs. Two passengers in a private car were lightly wounded by stones and glass shards, as was a bus passenger, and other cars were damaged.

Read more: http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.726529

Note: Haaretz Premium article - Google title for access.