An Israeli soldier who died during a massive raid on the West Bank city of Jenin last month was killed by fire from his own comrades, the army said Tuesday.
Twelve Palestinians, including militants and children, were killed in the two-day raid, Israel’s deadliest incursion in the occupied West Bank in years.
Israeli soldier David Yehuda Yizhak was shot dead by fellow troops “following an incident of mistaken identification,” the military said.
“A soldier that identified a suspicious figure making suspicious movements in one of the buildings shot towards it” during an exchange of fire with Palestinian militants, an army statement said.
Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi described the death as “difficult and unfortunate,” adding: “We will learn the necessary lessons.”
The Jenin raid involved hundreds of troops, drone strikes, and army bulldozers that tore up streets.
At least 48 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli raids on the city and its refugee camp so far this year.
Israeli incursions into Jenin, which is nominally under the security control of the Palestinian Authority, are routinely met with armed resistance.
The soldier shot dead is among 31 Israelis killed in violence linked to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict this year, according to an AFP tally compiled from official sources on both sides.
At least 219 Palestinians have been killed over the same period, as well as one Ukrainian and an Italian.
They include, on the Palestinian side, combatants as well as civilians and, on the Israeli side, three members of the Arab minority.
