Israel denies link to 'tear gas death' of Palestinian baby

Israel's military rejected Saturday any link between its use of tear gas during West Bank clashes and the death of an eight-month-old boy, after the Palestinian health ministry said he was asphyxiated.

On Friday, the Palestinian ministry said Ramadan Thawabteh was asphyxiated in his Bethlehem home by tear gas fired by Israeli soldiers during clashes with Palestinian stone throwers.

"Following both medical and operational investigations it was concluded that there is no correlation of IDF (Israeli army) activity in the village and the tragic death of the infant," a military spokesman said Saturday.

"Tear gas was used dozens of metres (yards) away from the Thawabteh residence, and no riot dispersal means were directed at the residence," a statement said

Hundreds of people attended the boy's funeral on Saturday.

Source: AFP