Israeli army commander filmed hitting activist with rifle

16 April 2012, 00:14 (GMT+05:00)

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Pro-Palestinian activists released video footage on Sunday showing an Israeli army commander hitting a Danish activist in the face with his F-16 rifle, dpa reported.

The footage was broadcast on Israeli television.

The Israeli military condemned the incident as "severe" and said it would take "appropriate measures" after a thorough investigation.

The incident happened on Saturday, when a group of pro-Palestinian activists cycled on a road through the Jordan Valley in the West Bank to protest Israeli security restrictions on the movement of Palestinians in the area.

The commander, a lieutenant-colonel, arrived at the scene after receiving a report that activists were blocking the road.

When one of the activists came near him, the commander lifted his F-16 rifle and hit him with it in face, the footage shows.

The Danish national was take to hospital needing stitches to his lip, one activist said.