Worker dies of heart attack during army chase
4-10-2010HEBRON (Ma'an) -- A Palestinian worker died of a heart attack on Monday after being chased by Israeli forces as he tried to enter Jerusalem from Hebron, medics told Ma'an.
A source with the Palestine Red Crescent Society said Shahda Muhammad Hussein Karja, 55, from Halhul, likely sustained a stress-induced heart attack during the chase. The source also said Karja had inhaled tear gas deployed by forces during the pursuit.
Witnesses told Ma'an that a group of workers were trying to illegal enter Israel for work from the Arab Ramadeen area in Hebron.
A spokeswoman for the Israeli army confirmed the death but said the deceased "wasn't being chased; he was running towards Israel and in the meantime suffered a heart attack and died."
The representative also said no riot dispersal means were used and that Karja was spotted trying to climb the separation barrier.
The death comes a day after an Israeli border guard officer shot and killed a Palestinian worker in East Jerusalem as he attempted to enter the occupied city for work.
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