IDF confirms Palestinian killed in clashes near Ramallah

Military says unit came under attack during raid from rioters throwing blocks and bricks; 3 soldiers lightly injured

The IDF confirmed Monday that Israeli troops had shot and killed a Palestinian rioter during a raid near Ramallah earlier in the day.

According to the IDF, the soldiers came under attack by rioters throwing stones and bricks as they conducted a raid against “Hamas and other terrorist targets.”

Three soldiers were lightly injured and “a rioter who was threatening to throw another block was shot and killed,” the IDF said in a statement, adding that the raid had uncovered a pistol and ammunition at the home of a suspect who was arrested.

Palestinian medical and security sources told AFP that 19-year-old Ahmad Arafat was shot in the chest during clashes with the IDF in Jelazoun refugee camp. The army was conducting arrests in the camp as part of its massive manhunt for three missing Israeli youths.

The Palestinian security sources could not immediately say whether the army had intended to arrest Arafat. They noted he had been released from Israeli prison one week ago.

The army was detaining dozens of Palestinians throughout the West Bank as part of its attempts to find the three youths — Eyal Yifrach, Gil-ad Shaar, Naftali Frenkel — who were kidnapped near Hebron on Thursday, according to Israel by the Hamas terror group.