Palestinian PM’s convoy involved in West Bank accident

Nine people were injured Saturday in a head-on collision between an Israeli car and a vehicle belonging to outgoing Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah’s convoy, near the West Bank settlement of Tekoa, south of Jerusalem.

An Israeli couple and their four children were injured in one of the cars and three of Hamdallah’s bodyguards were wounded in the other. Red Crescent and Magen David Adom ambulances treated the wounded at the scene and transported them to Sharei Tzedek hospital in Jerusalem, and the Palestinian Authority governmental hospital in Beit Jalla.

Israeli emergency forces attempted to rescue one of the wounded Israelis using mechanical equipment, as he had been trapped in the vehicle, Ma’an reported.

According to Palestinians eyewitnesses at the site, Hamdallah, who was on his way to Ramallah, exited his vehicle in order to personally make sure that the injured passengers were safe.

An initial police report said Hamdallah’s driver illegally attempted to pass another vehicle.