IDF investigates reports of ‘tear gas death’ of elderly Palestinian man
Said Jasser Ali died from smoke inhalation after IDF troops fired tear gas at a procession in Kfar Kadum, Palestinian sources say.
By YAAKOV LAPPIN, YASSER OKBIRally marking Fatah's 47th anniversary in Nablus 370(photo credit: REUTERS)
The IDF has launched an investigation on Thursday after Palestinian sources said an 85-yearold man, from the West Bank village of Kafr Kadum, near Nablus, died late Wednesday from an army tear gas canister fired into his home.An army source said the incident was under investigation, and could not offer more details on it as a result.During the nighttime disturbance at Kafr Kadum, between 20 and 40 Palestinians took part in rioting, and were dispersed by a Nahal infantry unit, the source added.According to Palestinian security sources, Said Jasser Ali died from smoke inhalation after IDF troops fired tear gas at a procession in Kfar Kadum marking the anniversary of the founding of Fatah.Witnesses said IDF soldiers fired tear gas canisters at Palestinian homes, including that of Ali. He was later rushed to Al-Arabi Hospital in Nablus, where he was pronounced dead around midnight on Wednesday.The IDF said it was too early to determine definitively whether the Palestinian died from smoke inhalation.Also on Thursday, a group of Palestinians approached the Gaza Strip-Israeli security fence and began hurling rocks at IDF soldiers and at the fence. The suspects entered a closed security zone, and ignored requests from soldiers to move away, an army spokeswoman said. A soldier fired on the legs of one of the suspects, who was hit and wounded.Late Thursday night, a Kassam rocket fired from Gaza landed in an open area in the South.Jerusalem Post staff contributed to this report.
