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Israeli soldiers' app use leads to deadly fight in West Bank camp Israeli soldiers' app use leads to deadly fight in West Bank camp
(35 minutes later)
Two Israeli soldiers sparked an hour-long deadly battle in a Palestinian refugee camp which they entered, apparently by mistake, while following the popular online navigation app Waze.Two Israeli soldiers sparked an hour-long deadly battle in a Palestinian refugee camp which they entered, apparently by mistake, while following the popular online navigation app Waze.
In the course of a rescue operation, which saw helicopters and special forces deployed, one Palestinian was killed and four injured while 10 Israeli security personnel were wounded. In the course of a rescue operation, during which helicopters and special forces were deployed, one Palestinian was killed and four injured while 10 Israeli security personnel were wounded.
The disclosure that they were using the Israeli-developed app provoked bafflement as its default setting – which the user has to override – prevents navigation in the West Bank. The disclosure that the soldiers were using the Israeli-developed app provoked bafflement as its default setting – which the user has to override – prevents navigation in the West Bank.
Even when security settings are altered, the app is also often inaccurate in the occupied territories, leading to questions about why soldiers in a military vehicle were using it to navigate. Even when security settings are altered, the app is often inaccurate in the occupied territories, leading to questions about why soldiers in a military vehicle were using it to navigate.
The two Israeli soldiers – from a military dog unit – mistakenly entered the volatile Qalandia camp in the West Bank where they were pelted with rocks and firebombs, said Israeli military spokesman Motti Almoz. The two Israeli soldiers – from a military dog unit – mistakenly entered the volatile Qalandia camp in the West Bank where they were pelted with rocks and firebombs, said Israeli a military spokesman, Motti Almoz.
They fled after their jeep caught fire, with one escaping to a nearby Jewish settlement and the other taking cover in the yard of a Palestinian family for about an hour before he was rescued by the Israeli troops amid heavy clashes.They fled after their jeep caught fire, with one escaping to a nearby Jewish settlement and the other taking cover in the yard of a Palestinian family for about an hour before he was rescued by the Israeli troops amid heavy clashes.
According to media reports, the Israeli military initiated the so-called Hannibal Protocol in response to the incident, an order requiring extraordinary measures to head off the abduction of soldiers.According to media reports, the Israeli military initiated the so-called Hannibal Protocol in response to the incident, an order requiring extraordinary measures to head off the abduction of soldiers.
Waze, acquired by Google for more than $1bn in 2013, said the soldiers themselves were at fault. Waze, acquired by Google for more than $1bn in 2013, said the soldiers were at fault. “[Waze] includes a specific default setting that prevents routes through areas which are marked as dangerous or prohibited for Israelis to drive through,” the company said.
“[Waze] includes a specific default setting that prevents routes through areas which are marked as dangerous or prohibited for Israelis to drive through,” the company said in a statement. “In this case, the setting was disabled. In addition, the driver deviated from the suggested route and, as a result, entered the prohibited area. There are also red signs on the road in question that prohibit access to Palestinian-controlled territories [for Israelis]. It is the responsibility of every driver to adhere to road and traffic signs and obey local laws.”
“In this case, the setting was disabled. In addition, the driver deviated from the suggested route and as a result, entered the prohibited area.
“There are also red signs on the road in question that prohibit access to Palestinian-controlled territories [for Israelis]. It is the responsibility of every driver to adhere to road and traffic signs and obey local laws.”
The military said it went into emergency mode because of concerns that one of the soldiers had been abducted.The military said it went into emergency mode because of concerns that one of the soldiers had been abducted.
The Palestinian Red Crescent identified the Palestinian man who died as 22-year-old university student Eyad Sajadiyeh, saying he was shot in the head during the fighting.The Palestinian Red Crescent identified the Palestinian man who died as 22-year-old university student Eyad Sajadiyeh, saying he was shot in the head during the fighting.
The Israeli military said 10 security personnel were wounded. Israel’s defence minister, Moshe Ya’alon, said the soldiers appeared to go astray after Waze showed them the shortest route from Jerusalem to their destination in the West Bank.
Israel’s defence minister, Moshe Yaalon, said the soldiers appeared to go astray after Waze showed them the shortest route from Jerusalem to their destination in the West Bank. He said the incident would be investigated further to make sure such a situation would not happen again. “I learned long ago, when the GPS was introduced, you can’t forget how to navigate using a map and you need to know your environment and not follow technology blindly,” Ya’alon said.
He said the incident would be investigated further to make sure such a situation would not happen again.
“I learned long ago, when the GPS was introduced, you can’t forget how to navigate using a map and you need to know your environment and not follow technology blindly,” Yaalon said.
Tuesday’s violence was the latest in more than five months of near-daily Palestinian attacks on civilians and security forces in which 28 Israelis have died, mostly in stabbings, shootings and attacks where Palestinians used vehicles as weapons to ram into Israeli soldiers or civilians.Tuesday’s violence was the latest in more than five months of near-daily Palestinian attacks on civilians and security forces in which 28 Israelis have died, mostly in stabbings, shootings and attacks where Palestinians used vehicles as weapons to ram into Israeli soldiers or civilians.
Since mid-September at least 168 Palestinians have also been killed, most of them said by Israel to have been attackers. The rest died in clashes with troops.Since mid-September at least 168 Palestinians have also been killed, most of them said by Israel to have been attackers. The rest died in clashes with troops.