Israeli forces shoot, kill 14-year-old Palestinian boy in Jenin

Nov 08, 2022
Mohammad Samer Mohammad Khalouf, 14, is the 30th Palestinian child shot and killed by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank this year. (Photo: Courtesy of the Khalouf family)

Ramallah, November 7, 2022—Israeli forces shot and killed a 14-year-old Palestinian boy last week near Jenin refugee camp in the northern occupied West Bank.

Mohammad Samer Mohammad Khalouf, 14, was shot and killed by Israeli forces on November 3 around 2 p.m. near the entrance to Jenin refugee camp, according to documentation collected by Defense for Children International - Palestine. Mohammad arrived on a motorcycle near the camp entrance on Jenin Government Hospital Street where Palestinian residents were confronting Israeli forces. He allegedly fired a homemade gun at Israeli military vehicles near the eastern entrance to Jenin refugee camp. Israeli forces opened fire at Mohammad from a distance of about 100 meters (328 feet), who was struck by a bullet in the chest. Mohammad was transferred by private vehicle to Jenin Government Hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead shortly after he arrived.

The bullet entered Mohammad’s left armpit and exited through his chest, according to information collected by DCIP. He was able to walk a few steps before collapsing on the ground after being shot.

“Palestinian children live in a hyper-militarized context where the Israeli military's incursions into Palestinian communities to arrest and intimidate Palestinian civilians is the norm,” said Ayed Abu Eqtaish, accountability program director at DCIP. “During these incursions, Israeli forces routinely resort to intentional lethal force in situations not justified under international law and make no effort to impartially investigate or ensure that Israeli soldiers act in accordance with international standards.”

Israeli forces carried out an incursion into Jenin refugee camp where they killed a Palestinian man and surrounded the camp with Israeli military vehicles. 

Israeli forces have intensified arrest operations and incursions into Palestinian cities in the occupied West Bank in recent months, leading to an increase in the number of Palestinian children killed by Israeli forces. Dozens of Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since the Israeli military launched its Operation “Break the Wave” on March 31, 2022.

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.

47 Palestinian children have been killed in 2022, according to documentation collected by DCIP, including 30 Palestinian children shot and killed by Israeli forces or settlers in the occupied West Bank. DCIP documented the killing of 17 Palestinian children between August 5–7 after Israeli forces launched a military offensive in the Gaza Strip. DCIP continues to investigate several incidents.

2021 was the deadliest year for Palestinian children since 2014. Israeli forces and armed civilians killed 78 Palestinian children, according to evidence collected by DCIP.

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