IDF soldiers operating in Hirbet Luza near Hevron Tuesday afternoon identified an Arab carrying an automatic M-16 assault rifle. In accordance with procedures, the soldiers opened fire at the armed man and hit him. He died from his wounds.

An initial investigation immediately afterwards revealed that the Arab was actually a 16-year-old who was holding a plastic toy rifle. The photo below, distributed by the IDF Spokesman, shows the tremendous similarities between the toy and the real thing.

The IDF force identified the plastic weapon (above) as a real M-16 rifle (below)

IDF Spokesman

The dead youth was identified as Ahmad Askapi.

In a similar incident in November 2006, a 17-year-old Arab got out of a car near an IDF roadblock north of Jericho and drew a pistol. The soldiers shot and killed him only to find out later that the pistol was a toy.

The IDF continues to investigate the incident.