Israel to investigate fatal shooting of Palestinian commuter

Man returning from work in Israel was shot dead by Israeli soldiers on Wednesday

Mourners at the funeral of Palestinian Raed Jadallah, who was shot dead by Israeli forces, according to the health ministry, near Ramallah in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Reuters

The Israeli military said on Thursday it was investigating the fatal shooting of a Palestinian civilian in the occupied West Bank, who residents said was killed by soldiers while he was returning from work in Israel.

A military statement said troops operating on Wednesday near a motorway where Israeli vehicles had come under firebomb attack earlier in the week, had fired at a “suspect, who fled the area".

About 90 minutes later, “a civilian with a gunshot wound” arrived at an Israeli military checkpoint in critical condition and was treated by medical personnel, but died, the statement said.

Palestinian residents identified the deceased as a 39-year-old man who lives near the scene of the shooting. They said he was allowed to work legally in Israel and was on his way home when he was shot.

The man was named by Palestinian health officials as Raed Jadallah, a resident of Beit Ur Al Tahta near Ramallah. He was buried on Wednesday.

The Palestinian foreign ministry described the killing as a “heinous crime” and blamed the Israeli army for Jadallah’s death.

“They are catching us as if they are fishing,” Mohammad Jadallah, Raed’s uncle, said of his nephew’s killing. “This is not acceptable.”

Jadallah was born in Jerusalem and left behind four children, according to Palestinian television.

“The incident is under review, and is simultaneously being investigated by the Military Police Criminal Investigation Division,” the Israeli military said.

“The findings will be transferred to the Military Advocate General's Corps for examination.”

The West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem, areas where Palestinians hope to create an independent state, were captured by Israel in the 1967 Middle East War.

Violence has erupted often since US-sponsored peace talks broke down in 2014.