Israeli forces strap Palestinian to jeep bonnet and drive off during raid

 (Reuters)
(Reuters)

Israeli forces have come under fire after footage emerged of a wounded Palestinian man strapped to the front of a military vehicle during an operation in the occupied West Bank.

The incident, which took place on Saturday in the city of Jenin, was captured on video and widely shared on social media. The footage appears to show Mujahed Azmi, a local resident, secured to the bonnet of an Israeli army jeep as it drives past two ambulances.

The Israeli military acknowledged in a statement that while they had engaged in a firefight and apprehended a wounded suspect, their actions during the arrest breached established military protocols.

"This morning [Saturday], during counter-terrorism operations to apprehend wanted suspects in the area of Wadi Burqin, terrorists opened fire at IDF troops, who responded with fire," the IDF statement said.

"During the exchange of fire, one of the suspects was injured and apprehended.

"In violation of orders and standard operating procedures, the suspect was taken by the forces while tied on top of a vehicle.

"The conduct of the forces in the video of the incident does not conform to the values of the IDF. The incident will be investigated and dealt with accordingly."

According to Mr Azmi’s family, he was left injured during the raid. They said that when the family asked for an ambulance, the army took him strapped him on the bonnet and then drove off.

Violence in the West Bank, already on the rise before the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, has escalated in recent months.

There are now frequent army raids on militant groups, rampages by Jewish settlers in Palestinian villages, and deadly Palestinian street attacks.