Nablus: Four Palestinians were killed in the West Bank on Friday in two separate incidents involving Israeli troops and Israeli colonists, Palestinian security sources told AFP.
In the first incident, 46-year-old Hashem Abu Mariah and 30-year-old Sultan Yousuf were killed in the Palestinian village of Beit Ummar near the flashpoint southern city of Hebron by Israeli soldiers, Palestinian security sources said.
In the second incident, a group of colonists opened fire on protesting Palestinians near the northern West Bank city of Nablus, Palestinian security sources said.
An 18-year-old Palestinian named as Khalid Oudah died at the scene. Shortly afterwards, Israeli troops arrived at the scene and clashed with the Palestinians, firing live bullets and tear gas.
The Israeli army firing killed a second Palestinian, 22-year-old Tayyib Oudah, the security sources said, adding that three other Palestinians were injured by live fire.
An Israeli army spokesperson had no comment on the incident in Beit Ummar, but said there had been “confrontations” between Israeli troops and Palestinians near Nablus in which colonists “were involved”, without giving further details.
Israeli army radio reported that a female colonist has opened fire in the incident near Nablus, killing Khalid Oudah.
