BRUSSELS, December 13, 2011 (WAFA) - European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton urged the Israeli government to thoroughly investigate the death of Mustafa Tamimi, a Palestinian killed when an Israeli soldier fired a tear gas canister in his direction at close range while taking part in a demonstration in Nabi Saleh, a village north of Ramallah, according to an EU statement issued Tuesday.

Ashton said she “deeply regrets the tragic death of Mustafa Tamimi,” and “regrets the disproportionate use of force under any circumstances,” said the statement issued by Ashton’s spokesperson.

She urged Israel “to thoroughly investigate the incident.”

Tamimi was participating in the weekly Friday protest against the expropriation of the village's land and water spring by the Israeli settlement of Halamish, built on Nabi Saleh land, when he was hit by a high velocity grenade. He died the next day.

T.R./M.S.