Israeli forces kill 2 Palestinians in West Bank

RAMALLAH, West Bank -- In incidents occurring within hours of each other, Israeli forces killed two Palestinians in two different areas of the West Bank.

The first incident happened late Thursday night near an Israeli army checkpoint in the northern West Bank between Ramallah and Nablus.

Israeli media reports said soldiers opened fire at a Palestinian standing near a bus stop after firecrackers were heard in the area. They said the Palestinian shot the firecrackers in the direction of the soldiers.

The dead man was identified as 28-year-old Bashir Sami Hababin, from the village of Marka, near Jenin. He was said to be a university lecturer.

Palestinian media quoted family members and friends as doubting the Israeli account of events, saying Hababin was not the kind of person who would shoot firecrackers at anyone.

The second incident occurred early Friday in the southern West Bank, also near an Israeli army checkpoint, between Ramallah and Bethlehem.

According to Israeli reports, a Palestinian tried to stab a border guard manning the checkpoint. The guard shot the Palestinian, killing him.

The Palestinian was identified as Anas Fouad Atrash, 23, from Hebron.

Palestinian reports said Atrash was walking near the checkpoint with his brother when border guards shot and killed him and injured his brother and a second person, also from Hebron.

The army handed over the two bodies to their families for burial later in the day.

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