Mahmoud Al-Amleh, 32, died after being shot by Israeli soldiers while attempting to cross the West Bank barrier near Hebron for work, Palestinian health officials said. Israel's military confirmed it fired toward Palestinians, saying troops acted after suspects allegedly damaged the barrier. The shooting is the second similar fatality in under a week and follows widespread suspension of Israeli work permits after the Oct. 7, 2023 attack. The U.N. reports dozens of West Bank deaths this year and significant casualties among those trying to cross the barrier.
Palestinian Worker Shot at West Bank Barrier Near Hebron Dies of Wounds
This is a locator map of Israel and the Palestinian Territories. (AP Photo)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
A 32-year-old Palestinian man who was shot by Israeli soldiers while attempting to cross the barrier from the occupied West Bank into Israel in search of work has died of his wounds, Palestinian health officials said Monday.
What Happened
The Ramallah-based Health Ministry identified the man as Mahmoud Al-Amleh. According to officials, he was shot Sunday morning in the village of Beit Ula, south of Hebron, and was rushed into surgery at a hospital in Hebron, where he later died.
Hamdan Al-Amleh told The Associated Press that his cousin was among a group of workers heading into Israel when the shooting occurred.
Military Statement
Israel's military confirmed it fired toward Palestinians in the area and said one person was wounded. In a statement, the military said soldiers opened fire after suspects were believed to have damaged the barrier while attempting to cross, and described firing at suspects as a standard procedure during apprehensions.
Context
This is the second fatal shooting in less than a week involving Palestinians who were attempting to cross the barrier for work. Before the Oct. 7, 2023 attack by Hamas-led militants in southern Israel and the subsequent Israel-Hamas war, tens of thousands of Palestinians held permits to work in Israel. Israel suspended most of those permits after the attack. With the West Bank economy struggling and unemployment rising, more Palestinians have tried to enter Israel illegally in search of low-paid jobs.
Casualty Figures
According to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Israeli forces or settlers had killed at least 47 Palestinians in the West Bank this year as of May 11. OCHA also reports that since Oct. 7, 2023, 17 Palestinians have been killed and more than 290 injured while attempting to cross the barrier.
Note: Officials on both sides provide differing accounts of incidents at the barrier. This report summarizes statements from Palestinian health authorities, eyewitness family accounts, and the Israeli military.
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