Video shows Israeli army killing mentally ill youth

JERUSALEM (AA) - An Israeli rights group has released a video showing Israeli forces shooting down a mentally ill Palestinian in the occupied West Bank.

Mohammed Hossam Habaly, 18, was shot in the head by Israeli soldiers during a dawn raid in the city of Tulkarm last week.

The Israeli military claimed that the Palestinian youth was killed during “violent disturbance” in the area.

B’tselem rights group said Israeli forces fired rubber-coated bullets and teargas to disperse stone-throwing Palestinians, who had gathered to protest the Israeli raid.

According to a statement, B’tselem said 30 soldiers moved down western Tulkarm where several Palestinians were standing, including Habaly.

“An Israeli officer and two soldiers advanced towards Palestinian young men and fired four or five shots,” the statement said.

“Halaby was the last to leave. After he took several steps, he was shot in the head from behind, from a distance of about 80 meters,” it added.

Disputing Israeli claims about “violent disturbance” in the area, B’tselem said video footage from security cameras installed in western Tulkarm showed that the area was perfectly quiet and that there were no clashes there with Israeli soldiers.

The Israeli military, for its part, said the killing was being investigated by the military police.

"When the investigation is completed, the findings will be examined by the Military Prosecution,” it said in a statement.