Soldier who shot unarmed Palestinian questioned under caution

An IDF soldier is being questioned under caution for shooting a Palestinian man to death on Friday after he allegedly charged at troops in a guard post near the West Bank settlement of Ofra, north of Ramallah, according to Hebrew media reports.

Preliminary reports said the suspect most likely did not pose a threat to the soldiers.

Israeli security forces at the scene where Iyad Hamad, a Palestinian man was shot dead by Israeli soldiers after running towards a guard post near the West Bank village of Silwad, August 26, 2016. (Flash90)
Israeli security forces at the scene where Iyad Hamad, a Palestinian man was shot dead by Israeli soldiers after running towards a guard post near the West Bank village of Silwad, August 26, 2016. (Flash90)

Palestinian medical officials say Silwad resident Iyad Hamad, 38, a father of three, was shot in the back. Hamad is said to have suffered from mental illness and was receiving psychiatric treatment, Hebrew media reported.

According to the IDF, troops stationed outside Silwad identified a suspect running toward them and opened fire, killing him. Initial reports Friday said the man had opened fire on the post and Israeli troops returned fire, but the IDF later said it appeared that the suspect was not armed when he approached the guard post.

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