Military police open probe into death of Palestinian in northern West Bank clash

Israeli military police open a criminal investigation against a number of soldiers over the death of a Palestinian man during clashes with the troops in the northern West Bank last week, Army Radio reports.

Last Wednesday, soldiers from the mixed-gender Lions of the Jordan Valley Battalion conducted a predawn raid in the West Bank village of Tammun, close to Jenin.

During the operation, dozens of residents of the town began throwing rocks and setting off fireworks at the soldiers. In response, the troops fired live rounds, as well as tear gas, at the rioters, the army said at the time.

During these clashes, the man, 21-year-old Muhammed Bisharat, was shot in the chest and subsequently died of his wounds, according to the official Palestinian Authority news agency Wafa.

According to the PA outlet, ten other Palestinians sustained various injuries. No Israeli soldiers were injured.

Military police are investigating the soldiers’ use of force during the clash in order to determine if the live fire was necessary against the reportedly unarmed Bisharat, according to Army Radio.

The Israel Defense Forces did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

— Judah Ari Gross