IDF says it is investigating soldiers’ conduct after drone injures volunteer helping with West Bank olive harvest

Nurit Yohanan is The Times of Israel's Palestinian and Arab world correspondent

The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit issues a correction to an earlier statement in which it claimed that volunteers who were assisting with the Palestinian olive harvest in the West Bank had downed a drone with rocks, after footage showed the drone hitting a volunteer, injuring them and falling to the ground.

The footage also showed uniformed soldiers pointing their weapons at the volunteers and firing into the air in their direction.

Contrary to the previous statement, which claimed that the drone was brought down after volunteers threw stones, the IDF now says that: “The drone was not brought down by stones. The incident is under investigation.”

“The earlier response was based on initial reports and footage received, which will be included in the IDF’s internal investigation of the matter,” it adds.

It says that this was an “exceptional incident involving unprofessional conduct that will be investigated. Disciplinary measures will be taken against those involved accordingly.”

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