From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, August 27, 2024
Hamas calls on West Bank Palestinians to escalate tensions with settlers after Arab Israeli killed by IDF
Gianluca Pacchiani is the Arab affairs reporter for The Times of Israel
Following the killing of an Israeli Arab man by IDF troops overnight, Hamas calls for a day of “anger and mobilization” in the West Bank, urging Palestinian residents to “confront the settlers by all means.”
Following the announcement of a general strike today in parts of the West Bank, Hamas urges strikers to escalate tensions at “points of contact and confrontation” with settlers.
The victim of last night’s incident was named as Khalil Salem Khalawi, 37, although some reports said his surname was Ziadeh. He was an Israeli citizen but lived in the West Bank Palestinian village of Wadi Rahhal, south of Bethlehem.
According to the IDF, the incident began after Palestinians hurled stones at Israeli vehicles on a highway in the area. Israeli settlers arrived in the village area to confront the Palestinians and a clash erupted, according to the military.
IDF troops who were dispatched to the scene opened fire, hitting several Palestinians amid the clash.
The IDF says it is aware that the man was shot dead amid the incident, and three others were wounded.
