IDF Says Troops Fired Only in Air in Umm Safa Clash
Published
After Palestinian reports from Umm Safa north of Ramallah, the IDF said troops fired only in the air while dispersing the gathering. Earlier accounts, citing the Palestinian news agency, said local council head Marwan Sabbah alleged settlers entered the village outskirts, stole four sheep and that Palestinians were wounded by rubber-coated bullets when forces arrived. The IDF statement says forces used riot-dispersal measures and a few rounds into the air, not direct rubber-bullet fire. Israel should investigate theft and vigilantism firmly while also correcting incomplete claims about soldiers' conduct.
Sources
Difference in reporting
Sources factually disagree on what Israeli forces fired toward residents. WAFA says troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets and injured three; Ynet's earlier flash relays that allegation and also says three were hurt in settler clashes plus three by IDF rubber bullets; Ynet's later IDF response says troops used riot-dispersal measures and fired several rounds into the air only. The shared facts are: the incident was in Umm Safa north or northwest of Ramallah on July 4; Palestinian reports accused settlers of entering the outskirts and stealing four sheep; Israeli forces arrived; and the IDF response was published at 17:49 IDT.
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