Israeli police seek to shift blame for Nimir killing

Despite telling the father of slain 27-year-old Palestinian Mustafa Nimir, that his son was killed ‘by mistake’ on Tuesday, Israeli officials sought to shift the blame for the killing again today. This time to his 25-year-old brother-in-law, Ali, Maan News reports.

Luba al-Samri, a spokesperson for the Israeli police, said blamed Ali for the attack. She argued that the 25-year-old was driving negligently and, as a result, is responsible for Mustafa’s death.

Mustafa was shot dead and Ali was injured in a ‘shower’ of bullets early Monday morning, according witnesses, in proximity to a military raid on the Shufat refugee camp where they lived. Mustafa’s mother later told Maan that the two men had been out shopping for baby clothes and food for the family.

Though Al-Samri initially stated that the two were attempting to ram the police, Israeli intelligence later quashed that narrative and opened an investigation into the ‘mistake’.

Al-Samri stated that Ali was at fault through “negligence, driving without a driver’s license, driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs, and endangering the life of a human”.

Ali was taken to hospital soon after the incident. Israeli police have moved to extend the length of his detention.