Key Points
- Two
Palestinians, a 12-year-old child and a 19-year-old young man, have died
from gunshot wounds inflicted by Israeli forces in Nablus and Hebron,
respectively.
- The
child, Iyad Abdul-Muati Iyad Shalakhti, was shot in the New Askar refugee
camp, Nablus, on Sunday and succumbed to his injuries on Tuesday.
- The
young man, Ahmad Nafeth Jibril al-Awiwi, was shot in the head six months
ago in Hebron and died from his wounds on Tuesday.
- Israeli
forces reportedly shot three children during the raid in Nablus, including
Shalakhti.
- Al-Awiwi
was shot after Israeli settlers and forces stormed the Bab al-Zawiya area
in Hebron.
- The
death toll in the West Bank since the beginning of the year has reached
172 Palestinians, including 31 children and 6 women.
- In
the Gaza Strip, since October 7, 2023, at least 57,575 Palestinians have
been killed and 136,879 injured, according to the Palestinian Health
Ministry.
- The
events have drawn condemnation from Palestinian officials and human rights
organisations, with calls for accountability and protection of civilians.
Two Palestinians, including a child, have died from
gunshot wounds sustained during Israeli military operations in the occupied
West Bank cities of Nablus and Hebron. The deaths have intensified scrutiny of
Israeli military conduct and the ongoing violence in the region, with
Palestinian officials and rights groups calling for urgent international
intervention.
What Happened in Nablus and Hebron?
How Did the Child in Nablus Die?
As reported by the International Middle East Media Center
(IMEMC), the Palestinian Health Ministry confirmed the death of 12-year-old
Iyad Abdul-Muati Iyad Shalakhti on Tuesday evening. Shalakhti succumbed to
critical gunshot wounds sustained on Sunday during an Israeli military
incursion into the New Askar refugee camp, east of Nablus.
According to IMEMC, “Occupation forces shot three
Palestinian children with live rounds, including the slain Shalakhti, on Sunday
night, after storming the New Askar refugee camp, east of Nablus.”
What Led to the Death of the Young Man in Hebron?
IMEMC further reported that the same evening, the Health
Ministry announced the death of Ahmad Nafeth Jibril al-Awiwi, aged 19, who had
suffered a critical gunshot wound to the head six months prior in Hebron city.
Media sources cited by IMEMC state, “Israeli forces shot
Al-Awiwi in the head with live rounds after illegal colonizers stormed the Bab
al-Zawiya area in the center of Hebron six months ago.”
What Is the Broader Context of These Deaths?
How Many Palestinians Have Been Killed in the West Bank
and Gaza?
IMEMC provides a breakdown of casualties: “Since the
beginning of the year, Israeli forces and colonizers have killed 172
Palestinian citizens in the occupied West Bank, including 31 children and 6
women.” Of these, 31 were killed in Nablus and 11 in Hebron.
In Gaza, the Palestinian Health Ministry reports that since
October 7, 2023, the death toll has reached 57,575, with at least 136,879
injured due to Israeli military operations.
What Are the Circumstances Surrounding the Shootings?
According to Defense for Children International - Palestine
(DCIP), Israeli forces have repeatedly used live ammunition against Palestinian
children, often resulting in fatalities even when the children posed no direct
threat. DCIP’s Accountability Program Director, Ayed Abu Eqtaish, stated,
“Israeli forces routinely unlawfully kill Palestinian children with impunity,
using intentional lethal force against Palestinian children when they pose no
threat.”
What Statements Have Been Made by Officials and Rights
Organisations?
What Has the Palestinian Health Ministry Said?
The Palestinian Health Ministry has consistently reported on
the rising death toll and severity of injuries resulting from Israeli military
actions. In the case of the recent deaths, the Ministry confirmed the details
and circumstances leading to the fatalities of both Shalakhti and al-Awiwi.
What Do Human Rights Groups Say?
DCIP has documented numerous cases of children killed by
Israeli forces in the West Bank. In a previous statement, DCIP noted, “Systemic
impunity has fostered a context where Israeli forces know no bounds.”
The organisation also highlighted the legal obligations
under international law, stating, “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.”
How Did the Incidents Unfold in Detail?
What Happened During the Raid in Nablus?
According to IMEMC, Israeli occupation forces stormed the
New Askar refugee camp on Sunday night, leading to confrontations and the
shooting of three children. Shalakhti was critically wounded and later died
from his injuries.
What Were the Circumstances in Hebron?
IMEMC reports that Al-Awiwi was shot during an incursion by
Israeli settlers and forces into the Bab al-Zawiya area of Hebron. He had been
in critical condition for six months before succumbing to his injuries.
What Has Been the Impact on the Local Population?
What Is the Human Toll in Numbers?
IMEMC provides a regional breakdown of fatalities in the
West Bank for the current year: 59 in Jenin, 31 in Nablus, 26 in Tubas, 17 in
Tulkarem, 11 in Hebron, 9 in Ramallah, 6 in Bethlehem, 5 in Jerusalem, 4 in
Qalqilia, 3 in Salfit, and 1 in Jericho.
In the Gaza Strip, the death toll since October 7, 2023,
stands at 57,575, with 136,879 injuries, including a significant number of women
and children.
What Is the Response from the International Community?
Are There Calls for Accountability?
Rights groups, including DCIP, have called for independent
investigations and accountability for the use of lethal force against children
and civilians. There is growing international concern over the rising
number of civilian casualties and the apparent lack of consequences for
violations of international humanitarian law.
What Is the Ongoing Situation?
Is Violence Continuing in the Region?
As reported by IMEMC and corroborated by other outlets,
violence and military operations by Israeli forces continue in both the West
Bank and Gaza Strip. The situation remains volatile, with frequent reports of
raids, shootings, and civilian casualties.
What Do Local and International Journalists Report?
How Are Journalists Covering the Events?
Journalists from IMEMC, WAFA, and DCIP have provided
detailed accounts of the incidents, including statements from health officials,
eyewitnesses, and rights advocates. Their reporting underscores the
persistent dangers faced by Palestinians, especially children and youth, in
areas subject to military operations.
What Are the Broader Implications?
What Does This Mean for the Peace Process and Regional
Stability?
The deaths of Iyad Abdul-Muati Iyad Shalakhti and Ahmad Nafeth Jibril al-Awiwi add to a growing list of casualties that have fuelled tensions and undermined prospects for peace. The continued cycle of violence, lack of accountability, and high civilian toll pose significant challenges to any resolution efforts and have drawn international condemnation.