Advertisement

Israel policeman arrested over fatal shots

An Israeli border policeman has been arrested on suspicion of firing live bullets that killed a young Palestinian during a West Bank demonstration in May.

Nadeem Nuwarah was killed on May 15 during a day of clashes in Beitunia, southwest of Ramallah, between Israeli forces and Palestinian protesters marking the anniversary of the Nakba, or “catastrophe” of the 1948 creation of Israel.

Violinist ‘fixed results’ to become Olympian
• Abbott caught out by USA-China deal

Footage recorded by US broadcaster CNN captured a group of five or six border police officers in the area, one of whom could be seen firing at the time when the 17-year-old was hit.

A post-mortem found he died after being hit in the chest by a live bullet, an Israeli human rights group said.

At the time, Israel said border police were quelling a violent demonstration by about 150 Palestinians, and denied live bullets were used.

Benny Katz, the lawyer representing the suspect, whose identity has not been revealed, told army radio his client denied the charges against him.

“This arrest is superfluous, my client denies firing live bullets,” Benny Katz told army radio.

The border policeman was arrested following a probe by the justice ministry department which looks into complaints of police conduct.

Palestinian leaders accused Israel of Nuwarah’s “deliberate execution” at the time, after CCTV footage appeared to show Nuwarah was shot unprovoked, during a lull in the violence.

A second teenager, 16-year-old Mohammed Udeh, was killed on the same day in the same place. He was also hit in the chest by a bullet but his family refused to allow a post-mortem.

Meanwhile, Israeli settlers have torched a mosque near the West Bank town of Ramallah as violence intensifies in the occupied territory.

“The settlers set fire to the whole of the first floor of the mosque” in the village of Al-Mughayir, near the Shilo settlement, a Palestinian security official said.

Another mosque in the same village was set ablaze in a similar attack in 2012.

Hardline Jewish settlers frequently accompany their revenge attacks with graffiti bearing the legend “price tag” but that was not the case in the latest arson attack, officials said.

Advertisement
Stay informed, daily
A FREE subscription to The New Daily arrives every morning and evening.
The New Daily is a trusted source of national news and information and is provided free for all Australians. Read our editorial charter.
Copyright © 2025 The New Daily.
All rights reserved.