Israeli troops have shot and wounded a physically disabled Palestinian man during an arrest operation in the southern West Bank city of Hebron, according to a prisoners’ rights group.
Motazz Obeidu, 32, was “seriously wounded by Israeli army gunfire during an arrest operation” at dawn, the Ramallah-based Prisoners Club said on Thursday, describing him as “physically disabled” although it did not say how.
Local residents said the arrest took place at Obeidu’s shop.
The Israeli army claimed that a man had been shot after he turned violent during an arrest operation, but did not comment on whether or not he was disabled.
“During the apprehension, the Palestinian suspect … began to act violently, throwing an axe, a gas canister and a wheelbarrow at soldiers, injuring two of them,” a spokesperson told AFP news agency.
“He then attempted to steal one of the soldiers’ weapons. The soldiers fired towards him to stop him and he was lightly injured.”
The spokesperson indicated that Obeidu was treated at the scene and then taken to an Israeli hospital.
Nablus Raid
Separately, Palestinian security sources said troops arrested eight people in Burin village near the northern city of Nablus during an overnight raid.
It was not immediately clear why they had been arrested and there was no comment from the army.
In a separate development, two rights groups said soldiers had arrested a 14-year-old Palestinian, who holds US nationality, on charges of throwing stones.
In a statement released late on Wednesday, prisoner rights groups Addameer and Defence for Children International (DCI) said a boy identified as Mohammed K had been seized during a pre-dawn raid on his home in Silwad near Ramallah on April 5.
“Mohammed was arrested without a warrant, denied access to an attorney, and interrogated without the presence of a parent,” Addameer’s lawyer Randa Wahbe said.
“There is also evidence that he was mistreated during his arrest and transfer. It is difficult to find a right that was not violated.”
Wahbe indicated that the youth, who suffers from heart murmur, was being held at Ofer military prison near Ramallah.
There was no immediate comment from the army on Mohammed K.
(Agencies and Al Jazeera – Aljazeera.com)
