Israeli soldier kills Palestinian teen on his way to Al-Aqsa

A senior Israeli army officer shot dead a 17-year-old Palestinian early Friday morning by the Separation Wall near Qalandiya checkpoint.

According to Palestinian sources, Mohammad Kasbeh was killed by two bullets while trying to cross the Wall to pray at Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem.

Initial reports from Israeli sources claimed that the teenager was part of a group throwing stones at a military patrol that was making its way to Qalandiya, damaging a vehicle’s windscreen.

Binyamin Brigade commander, Col. Yisrael Shomer, got out of the car and opened fire, killing Kasbeh and wounding one other Palestinian.

Israeli military sources claim that Shomer felt in “mortal danger.” No Israeli forces were injured.

An Israeli spokesperson said: “The forces called the suspect to halt and shot warning shots in the air. Once he continued hurling rocks at close range and in response to the imminent danger the forces fired towards the suspect.” The IDF Spokesperson said standard procedure was followed.

Hundreds of Palestinians from Qalandiya refugee camp gathered at the Palestine Medical Center to mourn Kasbeh’s death.

Just two month ago, Col. Shomer participated in an Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs event on “Minors & Military Justice System in the West Bank”, speaking on a panel about “the Arrest and Investigation Process in the West Bank.”