Medic Witnesses Execution of Unarmed Palestinian

International Medical Volunteer Witnesses the Execution of Unarmed Palestinian

[Balata, Nablus] At approximately 7:20 PM, Israeli soldiers shot and killed Yasser Khalil Tantawi, an unarmed 20 year-old Palestinian man in the streets of Balata. Eyewitnesses report that Yasser was shot once by the soldiers and then shot nine times as he lay in the street unable to move.

Henrik, a Swedish national and fifth-year medical student volunteering with the Palestinian Medical Relief Societies, was running towards Yasser after he had been shot once, and Henrik shouted to the soldiers that he was an international medical volunteer. The soldiers ignored this announcement and shot Yasser nine more times, with wounds ranging from his chest to his legs. By the time the medical volunteers could reach Yasser and transport him to the ambulance, he was dead.

The soldiers entered the Balata refugee camp at 7:00 PM. Their intentions are still unclear at this moment, but eyewitnesses report that the Israeli military left Balata at approximately 8:30 PM.

In addition to Yasser, another young Palestinian man was shot in the hand this evening in Balata. Yesterday, at approximately 7:30 PM, Bashar Zuriek, a 16 year-old from Balata was shot in the eye by a rubber coated steel bullet and is currently being treated in Jerusalem. He will most likely lose his eye sight.

In the past month, between 25 and 30 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli military in Nablus. While the Israeli forces may claim that they are continuing these daily incursions to collect and kill 'wanted' men, many innocent, unarmed Palestinians are being killed.

Among the others killed, 20 year-old Mahmoud Alawi was shot dead in Balata on July 3, only two weeks after his younger brother Salah (18) was killed by Israeli forces.

For more information, please contact: Henrik (medical volunteer and eyewitness): +972.65.473.015 Mohammed (Balata): +972.52.223.374 Kole (ISM Nablus): +972.59.737.118

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