Jawaher Abu Rahma, the woman who Palestinians claimed was killed a week and a
half ago by IDF-fired tear gas during an demonstration near Bil’in, died as a
result of the medical treatment she received at a Ramallah hospital, the
commander of the IDF’s Judea and Samaria Division said on
Friday.
Brig.-Gen. Nitzan Alon said that the IDF’s conclusion was based
on new medical documents it received from the hospital which indicated that the
woman received doses of different types of medication completely unrelated to
tear gas inhalation.
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actively participate in the demonstration, but was inside a house about 500
meters away from where it was held.
Alon and Brig.-Gen. Motti Elmoz, the
head of the Civil Administration, will meet with Palestinian officials on Sunday
to present them with the new evidence.
Last Monday, the IDF said it
assessed that Abu Rahma had died of medical complications unconnected to tear
gas, adding that the medicines she received after being evacuated to the
hospital last Friday were used to treat people suffering from cancer, poison or
a drug overdose.
The Palestinians had rejected the IDF’s claims, and top
PA officials called Abu Rahma a martyr and her death a war crime.
Alon
said that the IDF’s assessment was reinforced later last week, after the
military received additional documentation proving she did not die of tear gas
inhalation.
“Our assessments were proven during the week after receiving
additional documentation from the Palestinians,” Alon said. “The documents and
data we received show that the type of treatment she received and other medical
aspects caused her death.”