An Israeli soldier is accused of abusing and shooting at an innocent Palestinian student at a roadblock north of Nablus on Sunday, inflicting moderate injuries, Israel's Army Radio reported Monday.
According to the report, the soldier hit Mohammed Kna'an and slammed his head against a cement block after Kna'an allegedly called the soldier a liar during an argument.
Nearby soldiers tried to restrain the soldier, but he managed to free himself, grabbed a rifle from a fellow soldier and shot at Kna'an. Kna'an was wounded in the hand, but managed to flee. He suffered moderate injuries, Haaretz reported.
Naomi Lalo, an activist with Mahsom Watch, a women's human rights group that monitors Israeli roadblocks said she saw the soldier grabbing the rifle from another soldier and pursuing the Palestinian. "We heard gunshots and then saw him [the Palestinian student] covered in blood, with a hole in his hand," Lalo told Army Radio on Monday.
Much criticism has been leveled by Palestinians and human right bodies at the Israeli policy of roadblocks and checkpoints in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Critics stress the intolerable delays caused to the Palestinian population as well as the humiliation of having to be inspected by Israeli soldiers as Palestinians travel through these areas. (albawaba.com)
© 2004 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
