BETHLEHEM, Tuesday, June 23, 2020 (WAFA) – Israeli forces shot and killed a Palestinian on his way for his sister’s wedding at a major military checkpoint, northeast of the southern West Bank city of Bethlehem, said security sources.

They explained that Israeli troops deployed at the Container checkpoint opened fire at 28-year-old Ahmad Mustafa Eriqat, a resident of Abu Dis town, south of Jerusalem, who was driving his vehicle, seriously injuring him.

Israeli military sources said that Eriqat was killed after he allegedly attempted to carry out a car-ramming attack.

However, Mayor of Abu Dis Ahmad Abu Hilal denied military claims, and confirmed that Eriqat was driving his car from his hometown of Abu Dis to Bethlehem to pick up his sister, whose wedding was planned for today, from a beauty salon.

Abu Hilal added that Eriqat was left to bleed to death on the ground as soldiers prevented Palestinian medics from approaching him. Eriqat’s body is withheld by soldiers.

A video of Eriqat‘s lifeless body lying next to his car was circulated on social media. Israeli soldiers step over the body as blood can be seen flowing across the road.

Israeli forces later fired tear gas canisters and sealed off the checkpoint in both directions, causing a traffic jam.

Though Israeli military has claimed that Palestinians were allegedly attempting to carry out attacks, in a majority of instances when Palestinians were killed human rights groups have disputed Israel’s version of events, arguing that many alleged attackers could have been subdued in a non-lethal manner.

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

K.F.