Israeli soldiers in the occupied West Bank have shot and wounded a mentally disabled Palestinian man during a raid on his house, medical officials say. The incident happened late on Sunday in the village of Nilin.

Awad Srur, 41, was hit in the face with three rubber-coated bullets, causing him to lose an eye, medics said.

The Israeli military says Mr Srur attacked soldiers who were arresting his brother and tried to grab one of their rifles before he was shot.

Mr Srur's son Muhammad said he tried to persuade the soldiers not to open fire because of his father's mental condition.

"My father was shouting at them in order to stop them. I told the soldiers that my father was mentally challenged and they should not pay attention to him," Muhammad Srur, 20, said.

The Israeli army said the rubber-coated bullets were fired in accordance with its rules of engagement.

Nilin is the scene of regular protests against construction of Israel's barrier in the West Bank, which will cut the village off from large sections of its farmland.

Israel says the barrier is necessary to prevent Palestinian militant attacks, but Palestinians see it as part of an Israeli effort to expropriate occupied land.

During violent protests in late July, Israeli security forces shot and killed a 12-year-old boy and a 16-year-old in Nilin within a few days of each other.

Source: news.bbc.co.uk 

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