Israeli police shot and killed a Palestinian on Friday in the occupied West Bank, in an incident they described as a stabbing attack, a claim disputed by Palestinian officials.
Israeli police say a Palestinian tried to open a car door and attack a couple of Israeli civilians who were in the Hawara area at the entrance to Nablus in the north of the West Bank.
He was shot and injured by the driver of the vehicle, according to the police statement.
US 'deeply concerned'
Then,
"the terrorist identified a group of border guards patrolling nearby, walked towards them and managed to stab one"
of them, the statement continued.
According to the police, the company commander then intervened to try to arrest the Palestinian
“who resisted and tried to seize his weapon”
.
The commander then opened fire and killed the Palestinian with several bullets
"out of fear for his life and that of the people around him"
, assured the police.
According to the police, the attacked border guard and the commander were slightly injured.
Their version of events was disputed by a member of the Hawara municipality, Wajeh Odeh, who told the
between the Palestinian and a border guard.
"An Israeli soldier pushed the Palestinian to the ground and shot him at close range,"
Wajeh Odeh told AFP.
The official Palestinian Wafa news agency reported that Israeli forces
"blocked citizens and ambulances from approaching him to provide first aid."
This is the ninth Palestinian killed since Tuesday in the West Bank, most in clashes with Israeli forces or raids by the latter.
On Friday evening, US State Department spokesman Ned Price said the United States was
"deeply concerned"
about the violence in the West Bank.
Read alsoA Palestinian woman killed by Israeli fire in the West Bank
“We re-emphasize the need for all parties to do everything in their power to de-escalate the situation. It is vital that the parties themselves take urgent action to prevent even greater loss of life
,” Ned Price told reporters.
On Monday, the United Nations envoy for peace in the Middle East, Tor Wennesland, had warned that the situation in the West Bank
was “reaching a boiling point”
.
At least 145 Palestinians and 26 Israelis have been killed since the start of the year in the West Bank, Israel and Jerusalem.
Israel has occupied the West Bank and East Jerusalem since the Six Day War in 1967.