An Israeli civilian was shot by Israeli forces during a counter-terror operation in the Binyamin region of southern Samaria, the Israel Defense Forces said on Wednesday night.
According to the IDF, the unusual incident took place as soldiers and other security officers worked to arrest nine wanted terrorists in the al-Am’ari camp close to Ramallah, the seat of the Palestinian Authority.
“During the activity, the forces opened fire toward a suspect who approached the forces and posed a threat. During his evacuation to receive medical treatment, it has been revealed to be an Israeli citizen and was therefore transferred to an Israeli hospital,” the army said.
The wounded Israeli was initially evacuated by the Palestinian Red Crescent to a hospital in Ramallah, but he asked to be transferred to an Israeli hospital.
While it is illegal for Israeli civilians to enter al-Am’ari, a town in Area A of Judea and Samaria under the control of the P.A., the law is rarely enforced against Israeli Arabs.