In the video of the incident, which took place near Hebron in the south of the West Bank on Friday, it appears that Haroun Abu Aram (24), along with three other men, is trying to hold the generator while Israeli soldiers want to take it away.
The dispute continues until a single shot is heard outside the camera, followed by shouting, before the camera moves to show that Abu Aram is lying motionless on the ground.
The video is widely circulated by Israeli human rights organizations and in Israeli and Palestinian media.
In a statement, the Israeli military (IDF) said soldiers were involved in a routine operation to confiscate and evacuate an illegal building in the town of At-Tuwani. Israeli forces regularly evacuate and demolish Palestinian homes in Palestinian territories built without a permit from Israeli authorities.
The statement said the army was aware of reports that a Palestinian was injured by live fire during the operation and that he was investigating.
The military statement also said the operation was carried out in the light of the rock-throwing by about 150 Palestinians, but this could not be seen in the video of two and a half minutes of the incident spreading on social media.
Mohammed Ribe, head of the local village committee, told CNN that Abu Aram’s own family home was demolished a month ago and that he was trying to protect his neighbors’ property when the IDF went to empty their home during Friday’s operation. .
“Haroun was trying to help his neighbors get their generator back when he was shot in the neck,” Ribe said.
A statement from the hospital in Hebron where Abu Aram is being treated said he was shot in the neck, which damaged his nerves and spine and left him paralyzed in all four limbs. The hospital added that breathing was only possible with a ventilator.