Israeli troops shoot dead relative of Ahed Tamimi

Israeli troops shoot dead relative of Ahed Tamimi
The 21-year-old protester Izzideen Tamimi was shot dead in the West Bank after allegedly throwing a stone that struck an Israeli soldier.
2 min read
06 June, 2018
Israeli border guard aiming his sniper at Palestinian protesters [Getty]
Israeli troops shot dead a 21-year-old Palestinian during a raid in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian Health Ministry said.

Izzideen Tamimi was killed after allegedly throwing a stone that hit the head of an Israeli soldier in the village of Nabi Saleh, near Ramallah. Israeli forces entered the village and were met by stone throwers, according to the victim's uncle Bassem Tamimi. 

The Israeli military said its forces were approached by a dozen Palestinians throwing rocks. After initially responding with riot dispersal tools, including rubber bullets and tear gas, a soldier fired live rounds on Tamimi, who was struck in the neck. 

The death comes amid soaring tensions between Israelis and Palestinians, after Israeli troops killed more than 125 Palestinians and wounded nearly 3,700 since protests began in March at the Gaza border.

No Israelis have been killed since the Great Return March demonstrations were launched in the besieged enclave.

Israel's use of deadly force against unarmed Palestinian protesters has drawn international condemnation, with UN war crimes investigators set to probe the Gaza massacre.

Izzideen, Wednesday's casualty, is a distant relative of Palestinian teenage protest icon Ahed Tamimi. 

Nabi Saleh is home to about 600 members of the extended Tamimi clan. The 17-year-old Ahed has drawn international attention for her arrest after slapping an Israeli soldier in the face in December.

Wednesday's incident comes after an Israeli soldier was killed by a granite block that crushed his head in late May. 

Since 2015, 50 Israelis have been killed in stabbings, shootings and car-ramming attacks, while Israeli forces have killed over 260 Palestinians in that period.

Agencies contributed to this report. 

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