Israeli-Palestinian Clashes: Death Of West Bank Man Prompts Violence Following Funeral

Violent clashes erupted late Monday night between Palestinian and Israeli forces following a funeral for a young West Bank man who was fatally shot late Sunday night as the Israeli military attempted to arrest him, Haaretz reported Tuesday. Mohammed Abu Latifa, an 18-year-old from the Qalandiya refugee camp, became the third Palestinian to be killed during an arrest operation in the last week.

Thousands of mourners reportedly turned out for Abu Latifa's funeral procession, marching from a Ramallah hospital to the refugee camp where he was from and demanding that justice be served for his death. Clashes broke out as youth in the camp flung stones at Israeli soldiers, who reportedly responded by firing live ammunition and rubber bullets -- although there were conflicting reports on how many people were injured. Palestinian medical officials put the figure at 14 Palestinians, while Israeli border police said two Palestinians and three Israeli police were wounded, Ha'aretz reported.

Israeli officials said the Palestinian man was killed when police raided the camp to arrest two men who were allegedly planning to carry out an attack on Israel. Abu Latifa, one of the suspects, attempted to flee from police, at which point police shot him in the lower body. Injured, Abu Latifa tried to jump from one building's roof to another and reportedly fell to his death.

Family members of the dead man have rejected the Israeli account of his death, saying he was "executed" by Israeli forces, Ma'an news, a Palestinian media outlet, reported. They said Israeli soldiers shot Abu Latifa and then restrained him and shot him in the chest.

Abu Latifa is the 18th Palestinian to be killed this year, Ma'an news said. Tensions have risen in recent days as Palestinian youth have clashed with police in Jerusalem in an attempt to block the access of hundreds of right-wing Jews to the Temple Mount compound, Ansa Mediterranian said.