Ramallah, October 13, 2023—Israeli forces shot and killed a 13-year-old Palestinian boy near Nablus today.
Amir Rafat Mahmoud Mlaitat, 13, was shot and killed on October 13 by Israeli forces firing intensively and indiscriminately toward Palestinans demonstrating near Beit Furik, east of Nablus in the northern occupied West Bank, according to documentation collected by Defense for Children International - Palestine. Amir was with a group of Palesitnians marching in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza when he was struck in the head by a bullet fired by Israeli forces from about 150 meters (492 feet). Amir was transferred to a local health center in a private car, then an ambulance brought him to Rafidia Governmental Hospital in Nablus, where doctors pronounced him dead around 3 p.m.
“Israeli forces and settlers know no bounds and are empowered to shoot to kill Palestinians, including children, seemingly whenever they feel like it,” said Ayed Abu Eqtaish, accountability program director at DCIP. “We are witnessing attacks against Palestinians throughout the occupied Palestinian territory as Israeli forces and settlers are emboldened by systemic impunity and international solidarity to commit war crimes on a whim.”
Eight Palestinian children have been shot and killed in the occupied West Bank since October 7, when the Israeli military began a full-scale assault on the Gaza Strip dubbed Operation Iron Swords.
Israeli forces shot and killed a 12-year-old Ahmad Abdulnaser Adnan Rabi around 7 p.m. on October 7 near the Israeli-controlled Eyal crossing near the occupied Palestinian city of Qalqilya.
On October 8, Israeli forces shot and killed Yousef Nader Suleiman Idris, 16, around 7 p.m. on October 8 during confrontations between Israeli forces and Palestinian youth in the occupied Palestinian city of Hebron. Yousef was around 150 meters (492 feet) away from Israeli soldiers in the Wadi al-Nasara area near the illegal Jewish-only settlement of Kiryat Arba when Israeli forces fired heavily at a group of stone-throwing Palestinian youth.
Imad Jareh Majed Adaily, 16, was shot and killed with live ammunition by Israeli forces around 11:30 p.m. on October 8 during confrontations between Israeli forces and Palestinian youth in the occupied Palestinian town of Beita, located southeast of Nablus.
Yaser Thaer Sami Kasba, 17, was shot and killed with live ammunition by Israeli forces around 9 p.m. on October 8 near the Israeli military-controlled Qalandia checkpoint located between Jerusalem and Ramallah. Later, Israeli forces killed 17-year-old Adam Amjad Fathi Al-Julani with live ammunition around 4 a.m. as confrontations between Israeli forces and Palestinian youth at Qalandia checkpoint continued into the early morning on October 9.
Obada Sa’ed Awad Abu Srour, 17, was shot in the back around 3 p.m. on October 11 in the Palestinian village of Qusra, southeast of Nablus in the northern occupied West Bank, according to documentation collected by Defense for Children International - Palestine. At least seven armed Israeli settlers from the nearby Esh Kodesh settlement, accompanied by Israeli soldiers, entered the village of Qusra and attacked a Palestinian family’s home. Palestinians confronted the group of Israeli settlers and soldiers, who fired live ammunition indiscriminately at Palestinians. A bullet struck Obada in the back and exited his chest. He was transferred to Salfit Government Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. It is unclear whether the fatal bullet was fired by an Israeli settler or soldier.
Yesterday, Israeli forces fatally shot 16-year-old Mo’nes Rebhi Mousa Zeidat around 8:15 p.m. in Bani Naim, east of Hebron in the southern occupied West Bank, according to documentation collected by DCIP.
So far this year, Israeli forces and settlers have shot and killed at least 47 Palestinian children in the occupied West Bank, according to documentation collected by DCIP. Israeli forces killed one additional Palestinian child with a targeted drone strike in the occupied West Bank.
At least 44 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the occupied West Bank since October 7, according to Al Jazeera.
Under international law, intentional lethal force is only justified in circumstances where a direct threat to life or of serious injury is present. However, investigations and evidence collected by DCIP regularly suggest that Israeli forces use lethal force against Palestinian children in circumstances that may amount to extrajudicial or wilful killings.
