TEL AVIV, Israel ( Associated Press) – The Israeli military killed a Palestinian on Sunday, the Palestinian Health Ministry reported, the Israeli military said, after the man illegally tried to cross the barrier separating Israel from the West Bank. Had it.
In a statement, Israeli forces said the man tried to cross a barrier near Kalkilya in the West Bank. He said the soldiers opened fire after shouting to stop him.
The Palestinian Health Ministry identified the man as Nabil Ahmed Salim Ghanam of Nablus, West Bank. The Palestinian Wafa news agency reported that he was 53 years old. No further details have been released at this time.
Thousands of Palestinians often cross illegally into Israeli territory from the west coast through gaps in the barrier, which is made of concrete in parts but fences that can be cut in others. Many work as daily wage earners, earning more money than in the West Bank.
While incidents such as Sunday are rare, Israeli soldiers killed another Palestinian under similar circumstances last month.
Israel’s attention has been focused on illegal Palestinian infiltration due to a recent wave of attacks by Palestinians crossing into Israel illegally. Officials have promised to seal the gap in the barrier.
Thousands of Palestinians enter Israel legally using work permits, but these are difficult to obtain.
Israel says that because of the barrier it was able to end a wave of terrorist attacks between 2000-2005, and that the wall is still needed.
