Israeli forces killed 13-year-old boy who posed ‘no threat’: Rights group
Child rights group Defense for Children International – Palestine (DCI-P) has released details of the killing of a 13-year-old boy by Israeli forces on Monday afternoon in the occupied West Bank.
The young victim, Ammar Motaz Mostafa Hamayel, was shot in the back by Israeli forces while walking with a friend near the bypass road adjacent to the Palestinian village of Kafr Malek – which came under Israeli settler attack on Wednesday night, which left three local people dead.
Israeli forces, concealed among pine trees, opened fire on the 13-year-old and his friend from a distance of some 500 to 1,000 metres (1,640 to 3,281 feet), the organisation said. A single bullet entered Ammar’s back and exited his neck, according to DCI-P.
The Israelis detained Ammar at the scene of the shooting for about two hours before handing him over to an ambulance crew who brought him to hospital where he was pronounced dead.
“While Israeli forces detained Ammar after shooting him, they physically assaulted multiple family members and neighbours who attempted to reach him and provide aid,” DCI-P said.
The boy was the 29th Palestinian child to be killed by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank so far this year, the group added.
More than 20 Palestinians detained in Israeli raid on West Bank
Sources told our Al Jazeera Arabic colleagues that Israeli forces have carried out a raid in the village of al-Arooj in the occupied West Bank and detained more than 20 Palestinians.
The village is located southeast of Bethlehem in the occupied Palestinian territory. Earlier, we also reported that Israeli forces carried out a separate raid in Nablus and detained 14 people. Several areas in the city of Hebron were also targeted early on Thursday.
Israeli forces have been carrying out daily raids in the occupied West Bank since the Hamas attack in October 2023.
More Israeli settler incidents reported in West Bank
We have been reporting on Israeli settler attacks on Palestinian communities in the occupied West Bank over the past day, including in the towns of Kafr Malek, where three Palestinians were killed, and Taybeh in Ramallah governorate.
The Wafa news agency now reports that Israeli settlers have “stormed” the Palestinian village of al-Malihat, northwest of Jericho, under protection of Israeli soldiers.
Israeli settlers have also reportedly attacked Palestinian vehicles near al-Maniya village, southeast of Bethlehem, by throwing stones at them.
