JERUSALEM (AA): Israeli forces shot dead two Palestinians in an alleged car-ramming attack in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Monday, according to the Israeli military.

In a statement, the army said a third Palestinian was injured when troops fired toward Palestinians, who ran over soldiers northwest of Ramallah. However, witnesses said that the incident was a “normal” car accident.

The three were workers and were on their way to their workplace, when they were surprised by Israeli soldiers, their vehicle slipped on the wet road hitting the soldiers’ military vehicle.Two soldiers were injured, including one critical injury, before Israeli soldiers opened heavy fire at the vehicle.

The army said one soldier was critically injured and a second suffered light wounds in the attack, which occurred near the town of Kufr Nima northwest of Ramallah.

According to the PNN, the two slain Palestinians were identified as Amir Darraj (20), from the village of Kharbatha al-Mesbah, and Yusuf ‘Anqawi (20), from the village of Beit Sira. The injured was identified as Haitham Bassem Jumaa Alqam, 20, from the Safa village.

The Palestinian Health Ministry has yet to confirm the fatalities.

Local residents said clashes erupted near the entrance of Kufr Nima between Palestinian youths and Israeli forces, which used live ammunition, rubber bullets and teargas during the violence.

It remains unclear the cause of the clashes.

Additional report by The Muslim News

[Photo: Israeli soldiers take security measures at the scene after Israeli forces shot dead two Palestinians in an alleged car-ramming attack near the town of Kufr Nima northwest of Ramallah, West Bank on March 04, 2019. Photographer: Issam Rimawi/AA]