A disturbing incident in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron was captured on video and reviewed by CNN on Tuesday. The footage shows a mentally disabled Palestinian man, Tarek Abu Abed, being shot and wounded by a man in military fatigues.
Tarek, known as “Ghazzawi” to his friends and family, was on his way home when he was stopped by three men in military attire and asked for identification.
His brother, Diaa Abu Abed, informed CNN that it was evident from Tarek's behavior that he has special needs. The situation escalated into an argument when Tarek could not provide identification, leading to him being shot.
Diaa Abu Abed identified the men involved as Israeli soldiers. Although some Israeli settlers also wear military fatigues and carry military assault rifles, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed to CNN their involvement in an altercation with a mentally disabled man near Hebron. The IDF's Military Police are investigating the incident.
The video, taken from a distance, captures the moments following Tarek’s statement about not having identification. It shows three men in military uniforms standing over Tarek, who is on his hands and knees next to a man in a red shirt, identified as Tarek’s friend. Despite the friend’s attempts to explain Tarek’s mental disability, the soldiers seemingly disregarded this information.
Tarek appears to be trying to stand up when a gunshot is heard, and he collapses to the ground in pain, with the men continuing to aim their weapons at him. Diaa Abu Abed rushed to the scene after being alerted by an onlooker.
The Palestine Red Crescent Society reported that they transported a 34-year-old man with a leg bullet wound from Qalqas to the hospital. Tarek Abu Abed suffered heavy bleeding and has undergone surgery on his leg.
This incident is part of a broader context of increasing violence in the West Bank. Since October 7, at least 256 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli troops or settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, as reported by the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
See the video here:
