RAMALAH, Tuesday, January 12, 2021 (WAFA) – Israeli forces Tuesday night detained a Palestinian allegedly for attempting to stab a soldier at Qalandia military checkpoint, south of Ramallah city, according to witnesses.

They confirmed that Israeli troops manning the checkpoint rounded up a Palestinian, who was not identified, purportedly for attempting to stab a soldier.

Israeli media claimed that the assailant, a 51-year-old resident of Nablus, tried to cross into the occupied city of Jerusalem and Israel without having the appropriate work permit.

When he was denied entry, he “began to act recklessly, pulled out a screwdriver and “most likely” tried to stab one of the guards with it,” according to the Israeli police spokesman.

Israeli soldiers, according to the statement, “were able to neutralize the suspect without opening fire” and eventually took him to custody for interrogation.

The circumstances surrounding the alleged stabbing attempt remain unclear and largely based on the Israeli version of events.

Israeli has been criticized for its reflexive use of lethal force and “extrajudicial killings” when Palestinian alleged attackers no longer pose an immediate threat. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that circumstances surrounding such killings over the past months remain disputed.

Video footage for similar alleged attacks appear to disapprove Israeli military claims, showing alleged Palestinian attackers did not even attempt to carry out any attacks. Some footage showed Israeli forces manipulating the crime scene following such killings.

Originally built as a roadblock in 2001, Qalandia checkpoint was expanded and become the busiest checkpoint in the West Bank in terms of pedestrian and vehicular traffic. It has a strong military presence and is often the scene of confrontations between Israeli forces and Palestinians.

K.F.