US calls for investigation of disputed deadly West Bank car crash

The US calls for an investigation into a crash over the weekend in the West Bank in which two Palestinian brothers were believed to have been run over and killed by an Israeli driver.

“Our deepest condolences go out to the Muteir family after two brothers, Mohammad and Muhannad, were killed this weekend outside of Nablus as they were repairing a tire on their vehicle. We support a thorough police investigation into this tragedy,” tweets the US Embassy’s Office of Palestinian Affairs.

The incident occurred Saturday evening between Rechalim Junction and Tapuach Junction on Route 60, the West Bank’s main north-south artery.

The official Palestinian Authority news agency Wafa said the two were returning from the West Bank city of Nablus when they had to stop to fix a punctured tire.

The Israel Police said that from its initial assessment, the collision occurred when the Israeli vehicle hit the two men and their vehicle while they were making repairs to their car on the side of the road. Police said the Palestinian-owned vehicle’s lights appeared to have been off as it stood on the side of the dimly lit highway.

Some Palestinian media reports have described the incident as a ramming. The Israeli driver was briefly treated at a hospital before being released.