Elderly Palestinian shot by Israeli soldier

Israeli soldiers shot and wounded an elderly Palestinian man at a checkpoint south of Nablus in the occupied West Bank early today, the checkpoint was closed for “security reasons” later in the day.

Medics from the Palestinian Red Crescent told Ma’an that Hussein Hassan Qawariq, 72, was shot by Israeli forces at the Huwwara checkpoint south of Nablus.

They added that Qawariq was hit in the foot and pelvis, and evacuated by the Red Crescent to the Rafidiya hospital in Nablus.

An Israeli army spokesperson told Ma’an that “overnight, a Palestinian suspect approached [Israeli army] forces near the entrance to Nablus.”

The soldiers called for the man to halt before firing at him when he did not heed their commands, the spokesperson said, claiming that Qawariq was only “lightly wounded”.

They added that the “situation was being reviewed” by the army.

Critics have slammed Israeli forces for regularly shooting at Palestinians at checkpoints when they do not cause a threat, pointing out that many Palestinians were shot after not understanding instructions given by soldiers or police officers in Hebrew.

On Monday, a Palestinian woman was shot and wounded by Israeli security guards at the notoriously confusing to navigate Qalandiya checkpoint for walking in the vehicle lane.

Israeli police spokeswoman Luba Al-Samri said that Israeli forces shot the woman because she had been carrying a bag in a “suspicious” manner and did not heed orders to stop, although Al-Samri did not report any weapons being found.