JERUSALEM (JTA) — Four Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces in two weekend incidents.
On Sunday, Israeli soldiers on patrol near Nablus shot and killed two 19-year-old Palestinians who reportedly tried to attack the troops. The incident is under investigation, according to the IDF, but initial indications are that the men were planning to stab settlers in the nearby settlement of Itamar, according to Israel Radio. The men were carrying farm tools and pesticides. The two Palestinians used pitchforks and a broken glass bottle to attack the soldiers, who were stationed in the area to protect Palestinians plowing their fields, Haaretz reported.
The attempted attack came hours after two Palestinian youths died from wounds sustained when Israeli soldiers on Saturday used force to quell a riot south of Nablus near the Palestinian village of Iraq Burin. The soldiers were attacked by dozens of Palestinians during the riot and responded with riot dispersal means, the IDF said, including tear gas canisters and the firing of rubber bullets.
Ibrahim Abd al-Khader Kadus, 16, died Saturday from wounds sustained during the riot, and Oseyd Abd al-Nasser Kadus, 19, died Sunday. The IDF said the two were hit by rubber bullets, but Palestinian officials said the youths were hit with live ammunition. The IDF is investigating the incident.
