Ramallah, April 11, 2021—A Palestinian boy shot by Israeli forces in the northern occupied West Bank on Sunday evening succumbed to his wounds today.
Israeli forces shot 16-year-old Mohammad Hussein Mohammad Qassim in the abdomen around 5 p.m. on April 10 in Jenin in the northern occupied West Bank, according to documentation collected by Defense for Children International - Palestine. Mohammad underwent surgery, but succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead around 7 a.m. on April 11, according to documentation collected by DCIP.
“Israeli forces continue to kill Palestinian children with impunity,” said Ayed Abu Eqtaish, accountability program director at DCIP. “Systemic impunity means Israeli forces can kill Palestinian children without fear of any consequences.”
An Israeli military vehicle entered Jenin around 5 p.m. on Sunday and pursued a civilian car, according to information collected by DCIP. Mohammad began running behind the Israeli military vehicle and appeared to be looking on the ground for stones to throw at it, an eyewitness told DCIP. Suddenly, without any prior warning, an Israeli soldier fired three bullets from the military vehicle’s rear window, striking Mohammad from a distance of about four meters (13 feet) in the abdomen, according to the eyewitness.
The Israeli military vehicle was reportedly pursuing a vehicle in which family members of Raed Hazem, a Palestinian man who carried out a shooting attack in Tel Aviv on April 7, were riding, at the time Mohammad was shot according to information gathered by DCIP.
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.
Mohammad was taken to Al-Razi hospital in Jenin where doctors operated on him. The bullet ruptured blood vessels, resulting in severe bleeding. Doctors found multiple bullet fragments in Mohammad’s pelvis and buttocks, according to documentation gathered by DCIP.
Following surgery, Mohammad was transferred to Al-Razi hospital’s intensive care unit. He entered cardiac arrest shortly after 6 a.m. on April 11, and was pronounced dead shortly after 7 a.m., according to documentation gathered by DCIP.
Mohammad is the sixth Palestinian child shot and killed by Israeli forces in 2022, according to documentation collected by DCIP.
Israeli forces shot and killed Sanad Mohammad Khalil Abu Atiya on March 31 as he approached a wounded man in an attempt to render aid. Nader Haitham Fathi Rayyan, 16, was killed by Israeli forces on March 15 outside the entrance of Balata refugee camp located southeast of Nablus on March 15.
Israeli forces shot and killed Yamen Nafez Mahmoud Khanafseh in Abu Dis, east of Jerusalem on March 6. Israeli forces shot and killed 13-year-old Mohammad Rezq Shehadeh Salah on February 22 in Al-Khader, southwest of Bethlehem. An Israeli sniper shot and killed 16-year-old Mohammad Akram Ali Taher Abu Salah with live ammunition on February 13 while Israeli forces deployed in the village of Silat Al-Harithiya near Jenin in the northern occupied West Bank, according to documentation collected by DCIP.
2021 was the deadliest year for Palestinian children since 2014. Israeli forces and armed civilians killed 78 Palestinian children, according evidence collected by DCIP.
