After Killing Him.. Israeli Soldiers Take 'Selfie' with the Body of a Palestinian

In a scene that sparked widespread condemnation, circulated footage showed Israeli soldiers taking a "selfie" next to the body of a Palestinian young man named Mahmoud Hani Idais, after shooting at the vehicle he was in, at the entrance of the town of Bani Naim east of Hebron.

Palestinian sources reported that Idais, 41 years old, from the town of Yatta south of Hebron, was killed by Israeli forces near the entrance of Bani Naim, while two other Palestinians inside the vehicle were injured, one seriously and the other moderately.

For its part, the Palestinian Red Crescent reported that Israeli forces prevented its crews from reaching the injured inside the vehicle, which hindered the provision of first aid to them at the scene of the incident.

Palestinian media circulated photos and videos from the shooting site showing the vehicle that the Palestinians were in, while local reports indicated that Israeli forces imposed restrictions on access to the area following the incident.

In contrast, the Israeli army stated that its forces received a report about an attempted run-over in the Bani Naim area, and that a unit operating in the area spotted a vehicle described as "suspicious" with three Palestinians on board.

An Israeli army spokesperson, Ella Wawiya, indicated via her account on "X" that the vehicle accelerated towards the military force and collided with it, before the soldiers opened fire on it, resulting in injuries to the three individuals inside, with no injuries reported among the Israeli soldiers. She added that the army closed nearby roads and entrances and began search operations in the area following the incident.

This incident occurred at a time when the West Bank is witnessing a continuous field escalation, including incursions, arrests, gunfire, and restrictions on the movement of Palestinians, alongside assaults carried out by settlers in various areas.

According to the latest statistics, the number of Palestinians killed in the West Bank since October 7, 2023, has risen to more than 1,200, while Israeli military operations and assaults linked to settlers have continued throughout this year, according to the Palestinian Information Center.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant had imposed a complete closure on the West Bank and cut off crossings to the Gaza Strip on October 5 and 7, citing security considerations related to the commemoration of the events of October 7.

The Israeli decision also stipulated that no exceptions for crossing in the West Bank would be allowed except in specific cases, while allowing the passage of essential workers in the health sector, along with cases related to commitments made by Israel before the Supreme Court, or needs related to the contact area.