Israel says innocent Palestinian bystander shot dead in rocks attack

A Palestinian teen was killed "by accident" by Israeli soldiers after rocks and firebombs were thrown on a major highway in Israel early Tuesday, the Israeli army said.

Overnight between Monday and Tuesday, rocks and firebombs were hurled at cars traveling on the 443 highway, connecting Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and the West Bank, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson said Tuesday. As a result, an Israeli and two tourists were lightly injured.

Israeli soldiers at the scene shot a group of Palestinians, which they said were responsible for the attack, killing a 15-year-old boy and injuring three others, according to Palestinian media outlets.

However, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) retracted its earlier statement, and said on Tuesday afternoon that it appears the Palestinian teen was a "bystander" and was not involved in throwing rocks or firebombs at Israeli cars.

The retraction was made after an initial investigation of the incident by the Israeli military.

Now, a spokesperson for the IDF told Xinhua, it is believed that the people shot by the Israeli soldiers were not involved in the incident.

The Palestinian Ma'an news agency said three other Palestinians are hospitalized in serious condition at a Ramallah hospital.

Palestinian media identified the 15-year-old Palestinian who was killed as Mahmoud Badran from the West Bank village of Kafr Qadum.

According to a report by the Ha'aretz daily newspaper, Israeli soldiers ran to look for the attackers and erroneously shot at a Palestinian car, where Badran was in, traveling with his family.

The IDF spokesperson said the investigation will continue at a regional military battalion near Ramallah.

An ongoing wave of violence between Israelis and Palestinians have been underway since October, claiming the lives of 32 Israelis, who died in car-ramming, stabbing and shooting attacks, and 205 Palestinians.

Some of the Palestinians died after clashes ensued with Israeli security forces during protests. Others were gunned down after allegedly committing, or trying to commit, an attack against Israelis.

Israeli human rights groups, the Palestinians and some members of the international community have accused Israeli forces of using unnecessary force against Palestinian attackers or alleged attackers, even when they do not pose an imminent danger. Endit