Israeli truck driver shoots dead 2 Palestinians following ‘attack’

An Israeli truck driver has shot dead two Palestinians who he claims attacked and tried to rob him in the West Bank, Israeli police say.

The incident occurred on Sunday morning in the village of al-Samu near Hebron in the southern West Bank, according to the BBC. The unnamed driver reportedly comes from the Israeli city of Ashkelon, while Palestinian media identified the casualties as Anwar Abed Rabbo, 27, and Naeem al-Najjar, 32.

A third Palestinian is said to have been injured during the shooting. Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld told the Agence France Presse:

“Two Palestinians were shot when an Israeli truck driver opened fire at two or three attackers who tried to steal his vehicle. Before he opened fire, the driver was seriously wounded by his attackers who hit him on the head.”

Israeli police are investigating whether the Palestinian men were attempting to kidnap the driver, Haaretz reported.

According to Reuters, settlers and other Israelis who travel often through the West Bank are licensed to carry weapons. Zahran Abu Qbetta told Ma’an News Agency that the two Palestinians were making their way to work when the shooting occurred.