High-ranking Palestinian official killed by Israeli forces on west bank of Jordan river - ambassador
MOSCOW. Dec 10 (Interfax) - Palestinian Ambassador to Russia Fayed Mustafa has confirmed the killing of a high-ranking Palestinian official by Israeli forces and urged international community to condemn their actions.
"Yes, the sad event did happen today, Ziad Abu Ein, our minister in charge of countering the building of Israeli settlements on our territories was killed today," he told Interfax.
"The whole global community must condemn this Israeli aggression," he added.
The incident took place not far from the city of Ramallah where the slain official was taking part in protests against the building of Israeli settlements on Palestinian territory, the ambassador said.
"(Protestors) were ordinary citizens, civilians and were using peaceful means of protest. For their part, the Israelis used whatever gear they had against them," Mustafa said.
The Israelis started beating the protestors, he said. "They hit Ziad Abu Ein in various parts of his body, as a result of which he died later," the ambassador added.
Earlier the NBC television channel reported that the head of the Palestinian commission for Jewish settlements and security wall, Ziad Abu Ein, was killed on Wednesday in clashes between demonstrators and members of the Israeli Defense Forces on the West bank of the Jordan river.
It is believed the Israeli soldiers caused him injuries during the clashes.
The official died from the injuries in an ambulance on the way to Ramallah.