Gaza medics: Israeli forces shoot mentally disabled man

GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- A mentally disabled man was shot Tuesday by Israeli forces east of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, medics said.

Gaza medical services spokesman Adham Abu Silmiyya said the 40-year-old man was transferred to hospital.

An Israeli military spokesman said soldiers saw a Palestinian approaching the security fence in the area, and shot at his lower body after he failed to respond to warning shots. The army considers the area close to the border to be a combat zone, he added.

A UN study released in August noted that "Palestinians have been totally or partially prevented from accessing land located up to 1,000-1,500 meters from the Green Line (depending on the specific area)."

The man was the second mentally-disabled resident of the Strip to be shot by Israeli forces in the last week. On 26 October, a man with mental disabilities from the Ash-Shuj'aiyah neighborhood was shot in the leg near the Erez pedestrian crossing in northern Gaza.