Ramallah, January 22, 2025—Israeli forces shot and killed a 16-year-old Palestinian boy yesterday as the Israeli military launched a new incursion into Jenin.
Motaz Imad Mousa Abu Tabeekh, 16, was shot by an Israeli sniper stationed in the Khalet Al-Suha area overlooking Jenin refugee camp around noon on January 21, according to documentation collected by Defense for Children International - Palestine. Motaz was shot and killed shortly after the Israeli military launched a new operation in the Jenin area dubbed “Operation Iron Wall.” When Motaz was shot, there were no confrontations in the area. He was transported to Ibn Sina Specialized Hospital, where he underwent surgery in attempts to repair injuries to his liver and inferior vena cava. Doctors pronounced Motaz dead around 2 p.m.
“As a fragile ceasefire takes hold in Gaza, the Israeli military now turns its attention to Jenin, whose residents have been targeted with lethal force again and again,” said Ayed Abu Eqtaish, accountability program director at DCIP. “Palestinian children are still not safe as Israeli forces continue to target Palestinian childhood with impunity.”
Israeli special forces entered Jenin around noon on January 21, infiltrating the city in Palestinian civilian vehicles. Massive Israeli military reinforcements arrived shortly after, including heavily armored military vehicles and bulldozers.
During the military incursion, Israeli forces have carried out raids on dozens of Palestinian homes in Jenin refugee camp and forced residents to leave the camp. Israeli forces have arrested many young Palestinian men, who were taken by the military to unknown locations.
Israeli military bulldozers have caused extensive damage to Jenin refugee camp during the incursion, damaging water and power lines and creating widespread outages.
Additionally, the Israeli military has carried out several drone strikes and aerial attacks, deploying explosive attacks in densely populated civilian areas.
Ten Palestinians, including Motaz, have been killed by Israeli forces since Operation Iron Wall began yesterday, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. At least 40 others sustained injuries, including at least five children.
Israeli forces have killed seven Palestinian children in the occupied West Bank in 2025, according to documentation collected by DCIP. Four children were killed by Israeli drone strikes and three children were shot and killed with live ammunition.
This incursion is the latest in a long string of repeated attacks on Jenin designed to exert control over the Palestinian population, including a recent incursion by Palestinian Authority forces that lasted more than a month.
From December 5, 2024, until January 17, 2025, the city of Jenin and its camp witnessed nonstop confrontations between Palestinian Authority forces and Palestinian gunmen. The death toll was recorded as 15 Palestinians killed, including 17-year-old Qasam Mahmoud Hussain Al-Hajj, 16-year-old Majd Amjad Atta Zeidan, and 15-year-old Mohammad Imad Ibrahim Al-Amer, in addition to many injuries, including 10-year-old Asma' Mahmoud Hussain Al-Hajj and 15-year-old Hasan Rebhi Hasan Shalabi, according to documentation collected by DCIP.
These incidents require further investigation to confirm the perpetrator that killed each child. DCIP collected eyewitness testimony and spoke with medical sources to confirm basic details. The ongoing siege of Jenin refugee camp, first by the Palestinian Authority and now by Israeli forces, makes confirming additional details difficult.
17-year-old Qasam Mahmoud Hussain Al-Hajj was shot on the roof of his house as he was helping fill his family’s water tank on Friday, January 3, 2025, at 11:45 a.m., along with his father Mahmoud, and his sister, 10-year-old Asma, during confrontations between Palestinian Authority forces and Palestinian militants in the eastern part of Jenin refugee camp, according to documentation collected by DCIP.
Qasam was fatally struck with a bullet to the head, while his sister, Asma was injured by a bullet to the neck. Their father was struck with a bullet to the chest.
Qasam was taken in an ambulance to Ibn Sina Specialized Hospital, where doctors announced his death upon arrival. His father was also taken to Jenin Governmental Hospital, where he was also announced dead upon arrival. Asma was initially taken to Jenin Governmental Hospital, and on the same day, due to her serious neck injury, she was transferred to the Istishari Arab Hospital in Ramallah. She has no nerve response and is unable to move her feet or legs, and will require long-term medical treatment, according to information collected by DCIP.
16-year-old Majd Amjad Atta Zeidan was shot and killed on Monday, December 23, 2024, at 6 p.m. near the Ansar Mosque in the Al-Damj neighborhood, located inside the Jenin refugee camp, according to documentation collected by DCIP. Majd was struck with a bullet that entered from the back and exited from the chest.
Field paramedics managed to approach and provide Majd with first aid. He was handed to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society ambulance and transferred to Ibn Sina Specialized Hospital, where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.
15-year-old Mohammad Emad Ibrahim Al-Amer was shot and killed on Saturday, December 14, 2024, at 12 p.m. in the southwest area of Jenin refugee camp, where he was standing in front of his house, according to documentation collected by DCIP. Mohammad was struck with a bullet that entered his chest from the right side, exiting through his back from a distance of 10 to 20 meters (33 to 66 feet) away.
“The area was completely empty of any Palestinian militants, and the chance of a confrontation or armed clash there seemed unlikely at all, which made me think it was safe and did not pose a danger to my child and his friends,” Mohammad’s father, who witnessed the killing of his son, told DCIP.
A field ambulance arrived and transported Mohammad to Ibn Sina Specialized Hospital. He was later transferred to the Arab Specialized Hospital in Nablus city for surgery. The doctors at the Arab Specialized Hospital announced the death of Mohammad at 5 p.m. due to his injuries.
15-year-old Hasan Rebhi Hasan Shalabi was injured on Monday, December 9, 2024 at 1:30 p.m., while he was riding a motorcycle with his uncle, 19-year-old Rebhi Shalabi, according to documentation collected by DCIP. While they were passing through the Jabriyat area.
Hasan was injured by shrapnel in his eye, causing him to lose his sight, while Rebhi sustained a fatal gunshot wound to the chest.
Hasan and Rebhi were handed to ambulance and transported to Al-Razi Hospital in Jenin city, where doctors announced the death of Rebhi upon their arrival, and Hasan was then transferred on the same day to An-Najah National University Hospital in Nablus, where he underwent surgery to stop the bleeding and remove shrapnel and damaged tissue. The doctors informed Hasan's family that he had completely lost sight in his right eye.
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 lethal force is regularly used against Palestinian children in circumstances that may amount to extrajudicial or wilful killings. Whether the perpetrator is Israeli or Palestinian, members of armed groups and armed forces are obligated to protect children and prevent children from becoming victims of armed conflict.