An IDF video that reportedly shows last week’s incident – in which a female
Border Police officer shot and killed a 17-year-old Palestinian – was posted
online Monday night, potentially shedding some light on the event.
In the
video, which was not officially released by the IDF but was posted on a Facebook
page by IDF Arabic-language spokesman Avichay Adraee on Monday, apparently shows
Muhammad al- Salaymeh, 17, make the first move to attack the soldiers after
speaking to them at the Border Police post next to the Cave of the Patriarchs in
Hebron.
In the subtitled video, which is shot from above the guard
station, Salaymeh can be seen walking slowly up to the post and speaking to one
of the officers, before appearing to show him his ID. He then slowly walks away,
before turning to face an officer behind him, and then quickly placing his right
hand against the officer’s temple and then striking him hard with his right
fist. The two then fall back and begin struggling with one another and tumble
off to the right.
At the same time another Palestinian appears to come
and try to assist Salaymeh, but then flees the scene.
Moments later the
Border Police officer and Salaymeh separate from one another and “N,” a female Border Police officer, shoots him
three times.
It is hard to tell in the video if Salaymeh was indeed
holding a fake metal gun as the Border Police contend, though he does appear to
be holding a shiny object in his right hand in the video.
Salaymeh was
celebrating his birthday on December 12 when he died, and his family claim he
was heading out to buy a birthday cake and did not pull a fake gun on the
soldiers.
The day after his death, Palestinians clashed with IDF and
Border Patrol officers for hours across the West Bank.
The IDF’s Judea
and Samaria Division spokesman Capt. Barak Raz wrote on his Twitter account,
“Last Wednesday night a Palestinian male attacked a Border Policeman at a post
in Hebron, pressing this ‘gun’ to his throat.”
Raz posted an image taken
of the black handgun replica used by the attacker.
“Watch security tape
and ask yourself how you would react if this was your partner,” Raz added.