8 may 2017
Palestinians who witnessed Israeli border police shooting and killing 16-year-old Fatima Afif Abd al-Rahman Hjeiji in occupied East Jerusalem on Sunday evening said the girl was “executed in cold blood” and did not pose a lethal threat when she was hit with some 20 bullets outside of the Old City.
Israeli police claimed Hjeiji “approached Israeli police and border guards stationed at the site, drew a knife, and tried to attack them while calling out 'Allah Akbar' in an attempt to hurt Israeli forces, who determinedly and professionally neutralized her.”
However, shortly after the shooting, an eyewitness told Ma’an that Hjeiji had been standing near Damascus Gate, more than ten meters away from a group of Israeli border guard soldiers, before she was killed.
"One of the soldiers started to shout ‘knife! knife!’ and moments after that, about five soldiers opened fire at her from every direction," he said.
Another witness said the girl was first hit in the chest and fell to the ground, “but Israeli soldiers continued to fire at her back."
Witnesses highlighted that a parked car nearby was riddled with bullets, indicating the extent of indiscriminate force used on the teenage girl, allegedly armed with only a knife.
In the wake off the killing, Israeli forces cordoned off the area as bystanders tried to crowd around Hjeiji’s body. Israeli border guards, intelligence officers, and police on horseback deployed heavily in the area and denied locals access to the Old City.
In the ensuing chaos, Israeli forces “haphazardly used pepper spray on Palestinians to keep them away from from the girl,” a witness told Ma'an.
A young Palestinian man sustained face burns after Israeli forces attacked him with pepper spray near Damascus Gate, and a nine-year-old child, Mahmoud Abu Sbeih, was badly bruised from falling over after he and a group of teenagers were chased by mounted police officers.
An impassioned bystander confronted Israeli police, shouting: “Why do you continue to tell lies? What did that girl do? What did she do? Do you actually want peace?”
Israeli police spokespersons had also published a photo of a knife that allegedly seized at the scene, and said a letter written by Hjeiji, in which she bid farewell to her family, was also found.
According to Israeli police, the note “included verses from the Quran, and was signed ‘martyr,’” the term used by Palestinians to refer to those who are killed by Israeli forces.
Israeli authorities and media outlets have claimed in a number of cases that Palestinians were shot after they intentionally provoked Israeli forces at military checkpoints in order to commit suicide, after a pattern of extrajudicial executions of Palestinians by Israeli forces emerged over a wave of violence that peaked in the fall of 2015.
Eyewitnesses have also said in a number of cases that Israeli security forces planted knives on slain Palestinians to claim that they were acting in self-defense.
An Israeli settler was shot and killed earlier this month at a military checkpoint, representing a rare case of Israeli forces taking lethal action on a Jewish Israeli since Israel became the target of international condemnation for implementing a "shoot-to-kill" policy on Palestinians who allegedly or actually carry out attacks.
Haaretz, considered to be Israel’s most left-leaning news outlet, wrote in the report on the incident that “the concept of ‘suicide by police’ is well known in countries with large Muslim populations, because Islam forbids suicide, but being killed by a policeman or soldier is often considered an honorable death that entitles the dead man to the status of a martyr.”
However, “suicide by cop” is a well-known and researched phenomenon, particularly in the United States where police, like Israeli forces, are routinely denounced for excessive use of lethal force on civilians with impunity.
While Israeli officials have routinely claimed that Palestinian attacks are part of a international rise in Islamist extremism, many Palestinians have instead pointed chiefly to the frustration and despair brought on by Israel's decades-long military occupation of the Palestinian territory and the absence of a political horizon.
According to Ma'an documentation, Hjeiji is the 20th Palestinian to have been killed by Israelis since the beginning of the year, seven of whom were minors. Seven Israelis have been killed by Palestinians during the same time period.
Israeli police claimed Hjeiji “approached Israeli police and border guards stationed at the site, drew a knife, and tried to attack them while calling out 'Allah Akbar' in an attempt to hurt Israeli forces, who determinedly and professionally neutralized her.”
However, shortly after the shooting, an eyewitness told Ma’an that Hjeiji had been standing near Damascus Gate, more than ten meters away from a group of Israeli border guard soldiers, before she was killed.
"One of the soldiers started to shout ‘knife! knife!’ and moments after that, about five soldiers opened fire at her from every direction," he said.
Another witness said the girl was first hit in the chest and fell to the ground, “but Israeli soldiers continued to fire at her back."
Witnesses highlighted that a parked car nearby was riddled with bullets, indicating the extent of indiscriminate force used on the teenage girl, allegedly armed with only a knife.
In the wake off the killing, Israeli forces cordoned off the area as bystanders tried to crowd around Hjeiji’s body. Israeli border guards, intelligence officers, and police on horseback deployed heavily in the area and denied locals access to the Old City.
In the ensuing chaos, Israeli forces “haphazardly used pepper spray on Palestinians to keep them away from from the girl,” a witness told Ma'an.
A young Palestinian man sustained face burns after Israeli forces attacked him with pepper spray near Damascus Gate, and a nine-year-old child, Mahmoud Abu Sbeih, was badly bruised from falling over after he and a group of teenagers were chased by mounted police officers.
An impassioned bystander confronted Israeli police, shouting: “Why do you continue to tell lies? What did that girl do? What did she do? Do you actually want peace?”
Israeli police spokespersons had also published a photo of a knife that allegedly seized at the scene, and said a letter written by Hjeiji, in which she bid farewell to her family, was also found.
According to Israeli police, the note “included verses from the Quran, and was signed ‘martyr,’” the term used by Palestinians to refer to those who are killed by Israeli forces.
Israeli authorities and media outlets have claimed in a number of cases that Palestinians were shot after they intentionally provoked Israeli forces at military checkpoints in order to commit suicide, after a pattern of extrajudicial executions of Palestinians by Israeli forces emerged over a wave of violence that peaked in the fall of 2015.
Eyewitnesses have also said in a number of cases that Israeli security forces planted knives on slain Palestinians to claim that they were acting in self-defense.
An Israeli settler was shot and killed earlier this month at a military checkpoint, representing a rare case of Israeli forces taking lethal action on a Jewish Israeli since Israel became the target of international condemnation for implementing a "shoot-to-kill" policy on Palestinians who allegedly or actually carry out attacks.
Haaretz, considered to be Israel’s most left-leaning news outlet, wrote in the report on the incident that “the concept of ‘suicide by police’ is well known in countries with large Muslim populations, because Islam forbids suicide, but being killed by a policeman or soldier is often considered an honorable death that entitles the dead man to the status of a martyr.”
However, “suicide by cop” is a well-known and researched phenomenon, particularly in the United States where police, like Israeli forces, are routinely denounced for excessive use of lethal force on civilians with impunity.
While Israeli officials have routinely claimed that Palestinian attacks are part of a international rise in Islamist extremism, many Palestinians have instead pointed chiefly to the frustration and despair brought on by Israel's decades-long military occupation of the Palestinian territory and the absence of a political horizon.
According to Ma'an documentation, Hjeiji is the 20th Palestinian to have been killed by Israelis since the beginning of the year, seven of whom were minors. Seven Israelis have been killed by Palestinians during the same time period.
7 may 2017
Fatima Hajji 16
A Palestinian young woman was killed on Sunday evening by Israeli policemen near Bab al-Amud in Occupied Jerusalem over an alleged stabbing attempt.
The Israeli police claimed in a statement that the preliminary investigations showed that the policemen at the scene shot the young woman to prevent her from carrying out a stabbing attack against them.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health confirmed the martyrdom of the young woman whose identity is still unknown.
Large forces of the Israeli police rushed to the scene and launched search and investigation operations there.
The Hebrew media circulated photos showing the young woman lying on the ground and bleeding to death without being provided any medical assistance.
Since the outbreak of the Jerusalem Intifada in early October in 2015, the Israeli forces have carried out dozens of field executions against Palestinians at the pretext of attempting to carry out anti-occupation attacks.
The number of the Palestinian martyrs since the start of the Jerusalem Intifada increased to 305 including 84 boys under eighteen and 28 females, 11 of whom were minors.
Israeli police kill 16-year old Palestinian girl in Jerusalem
On Sunday afternoon, Israeli police shot and killed a 16-year old Palestinian girl near the Damascus gate in Jerusalem. Although the Israeli police spokesperson claimed that the teen attempted to stab a security officer, that account has been disputed.
The child has been identified as Fatima Afeef Abdul-Rahman Hajiji, 16, from Qarawat Bani Zeid village, northwest of Ramallah, in the central part of the West Bank.
Eyewitnesses said Fatima was standing near the entrance of Bab al-‘Amoud (Damascus Gate), and was at least ten meters away from the near soldier or officer, and that one of the soldiers started shouting “knife, knife,” before five soldiers fired a barrage of bullets at the child.
They added that the Fatima was first shot with several live rounds in the chest, and the soldiers continue to fire at her after she fell onto the ground. Many live rounds also struck a Palestinian Taxi, parked nearby, causing damage and puncturing one of its tires.
Photos of the deceased show that she was shot and killed at quite a distance from the guard post, so even if she had been holding a knife (which is disputed), no security officers were in danger at the time when she was killed.
A Palestinian young woman was killed on Sunday evening by Israeli policemen near Bab al-Amud in Occupied Jerusalem over an alleged stabbing attempt.
The Israeli police claimed in a statement that the preliminary investigations showed that the policemen at the scene shot the young woman to prevent her from carrying out a stabbing attack against them.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health confirmed the martyrdom of the young woman whose identity is still unknown.
Large forces of the Israeli police rushed to the scene and launched search and investigation operations there.
The Hebrew media circulated photos showing the young woman lying on the ground and bleeding to death without being provided any medical assistance.
Since the outbreak of the Jerusalem Intifada in early October in 2015, the Israeli forces have carried out dozens of field executions against Palestinians at the pretext of attempting to carry out anti-occupation attacks.
The number of the Palestinian martyrs since the start of the Jerusalem Intifada increased to 305 including 84 boys under eighteen and 28 females, 11 of whom were minors.
Israeli police kill 16-year old Palestinian girl in Jerusalem
On Sunday afternoon, Israeli police shot and killed a 16-year old Palestinian girl near the Damascus gate in Jerusalem. Although the Israeli police spokesperson claimed that the teen attempted to stab a security officer, that account has been disputed.
The child has been identified as Fatima Afeef Abdul-Rahman Hajiji, 16, from Qarawat Bani Zeid village, northwest of Ramallah, in the central part of the West Bank.
Eyewitnesses said Fatima was standing near the entrance of Bab al-‘Amoud (Damascus Gate), and was at least ten meters away from the near soldier or officer, and that one of the soldiers started shouting “knife, knife,” before five soldiers fired a barrage of bullets at the child.
They added that the Fatima was first shot with several live rounds in the chest, and the soldiers continue to fire at her after she fell onto the ground. Many live rounds also struck a Palestinian Taxi, parked nearby, causing damage and puncturing one of its tires.
Photos of the deceased show that she was shot and killed at quite a distance from the guard post, so even if she had been holding a knife (which is disputed), no security officers were in danger at the time when she was killed.
Following the fatal shooting of the child, the soldiers used pepper-spray against dozens of Palestinians who gathered in the area, especially close to Fatima.
In addition, the soldiers assaulted many Palestinians, including children, in Sultan Suleiman Street, causing a child, identified as Mahmoud Abu Sbeih, 9, to fall from a high altitude after mounted officer chased him and many other Palestinians.
Hundreds of soldiers and mounted police officers were deployed in the area, closed many roads and alleys, and forced the Palestinians away.
Seven children and 13 adult Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces since the beginning of 2017. Although Israeli officials claim that most of these cases involved Palestinians attempting to attack Israelis, there have been multiple occasions, documented on camera, in which Israeli soldiers planted knives on or near the bodies of Palestinians they had killed.
Since October 2015, Israeli soldiers, settlers and police have killed 262 Palestinian civilians. 41 Israelis have been killed in the same time period.
In addition, the soldiers assaulted many Palestinians, including children, in Sultan Suleiman Street, causing a child, identified as Mahmoud Abu Sbeih, 9, to fall from a high altitude after mounted officer chased him and many other Palestinians.
Hundreds of soldiers and mounted police officers were deployed in the area, closed many roads and alleys, and forced the Palestinians away.
Seven children and 13 adult Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces since the beginning of 2017. Although Israeli officials claim that most of these cases involved Palestinians attempting to attack Israelis, there have been multiple occasions, documented on camera, in which Israeli soldiers planted knives on or near the bodies of Palestinians they had killed.
Since October 2015, Israeli soldiers, settlers and police have killed 262 Palestinian civilians. 41 Israelis have been killed in the same time period.
2 may 2017
Mazin Mohammad al-Maghraby 45
A former Palestinian political prisoner who joined the supporters of hunger-striking detainees at a solidarity tent died on Tuesday of a heart attack, just five months after his release from prison.
While in Israeli detention, he was subjected to medical neglect, leading to a severe deterioration of his health, including kidney failure.
The head of the Detainees Committee, Issa Qaraqe, stated that the former prisoner, Mazin Mohammad al-Maghraby, 45, was only released a few months ago, following serious health complications.
al-Maghraby had been participating in a solidarity hunger strike for the past several days, at a protest tent in Ramallah.
Qaraqe said that al-Maghraby suffered from a heart attack, and was rushed to the Ramallah General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead around dawn.
The deceased was from ‘Abwein village, north of Ramallah in the central part of the Occupied West Bank.
In addition to suffering kidney failure, al-Maghraby suffered from a number of other health conditions that were left untreated, and severely deteriorated during his five years of imprisonment.
He had been forced to undergo kidney dialysis since his release from prison, and was hospitalized a number of times.
The protest tent where he suffered a heart attack was established to maintain a constant presence in solidarity with the hundreds of hunger striking Palestinian prisoners. There are more than 1500 Palestinians currently on hunger strike, and the number is increasing daily.
This hunger strike began over a week ago following a call by imprisoned Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti and others, and has united all Palestinian political parties and factions.
The prisoners are calling for a number of demands to be met, including medical treatment for prisoners, allowing visits from their families and ending so-called ‘administrative detention, in which Palestinians are held without charges for extended periods of months and years.
A former Palestinian political prisoner who joined the supporters of hunger-striking detainees at a solidarity tent died on Tuesday of a heart attack, just five months after his release from prison.
While in Israeli detention, he was subjected to medical neglect, leading to a severe deterioration of his health, including kidney failure.
The head of the Detainees Committee, Issa Qaraqe, stated that the former prisoner, Mazin Mohammad al-Maghraby, 45, was only released a few months ago, following serious health complications.
al-Maghraby had been participating in a solidarity hunger strike for the past several days, at a protest tent in Ramallah.
Qaraqe said that al-Maghraby suffered from a heart attack, and was rushed to the Ramallah General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead around dawn.
The deceased was from ‘Abwein village, north of Ramallah in the central part of the Occupied West Bank.
In addition to suffering kidney failure, al-Maghraby suffered from a number of other health conditions that were left untreated, and severely deteriorated during his five years of imprisonment.
He had been forced to undergo kidney dialysis since his release from prison, and was hospitalized a number of times.
The protest tent where he suffered a heart attack was established to maintain a constant presence in solidarity with the hundreds of hunger striking Palestinian prisoners. There are more than 1500 Palestinians currently on hunger strike, and the number is increasing daily.
This hunger strike began over a week ago following a call by imprisoned Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti and others, and has united all Palestinian political parties and factions.
The prisoners are calling for a number of demands to be met, including medical treatment for prisoners, allowing visits from their families and ending so-called ‘administrative detention, in which Palestinians are held without charges for extended periods of months and years.
26 apr 2017
Aya Ghaleb Abu Mitleq 5
The al-Mezan Center for Human Rights issued a statement strongly denouncing the death of a Palestinian child, from the besieged Gaza Strip, after Israel refused to allow her to transfer out of the walled-in enclave, despite her serious health condition resulting from a metabolism disorder.
Al-Mezan said the family received a referral to treat the child at the al-Makassed Hospital, in occupied East Jerusalem, and were supposed to travel through the Erez terminal. But Israeli authorities kept denying the applications for permits to leave Gaza.
The child, Aya Ghaleb Abu Mitleq, 5, from Abasan al-Kabeera town, east of Khan Younis, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, has been suffering from serious health complications before the family managed to get a referral to al-Makassed Hospital.
The family got two appointments for the child; the first was supposed to be on February 02, 2017, but Israel did not even respond to their application for a permit to allow them to cross Erez terminal and head to occupied Jerusalem, despite repeated attempts b the family to get a response to their application.
The second missed appointment was supposed to be on March 19, 2017, and the third was scheduled for April 27, 2017. But again, Israeli authorities kept ignoring the repeated permit applications.
The child suffered another serious health complication, and was instantly hospitalized at Nasser Hospital, in Khan Younis, where she died on April 17, 2017.
Al-Mezan stated that three Palestinians have died under similar circumstances since the beginning of this year, and that Israel has only been approving approximately 20% of permit applications in the first quarter of this year, similar to 2016.
Al-Mezan said that the ongoing Israeli violations, and the deadly siege, are serious breaches of International Law, the Fourth Geneva Convention, and every related human rights and international treaty, which all guarantee medical treatment for those who need it.
It stated that Article #2/38 of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949, clearly says that occupying powers must not only allow all patients access to hospitals and medical centers, but also provide them with the professional treatment it grants its own citizens. The Article also guarantees protection to all civilians.
The human rights center further reported that International Humanitarian law, especially article #1/12 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of 1976, and Article #13 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, guarantee the Freedom of Movement, Social, Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
Al-Mezan strongly denounced the ongoing illegal and deadly Israeli siege, and held Israel fully responsible for the death of the child, one of the dozens of Palestinians who have died under similar conditions over the past ten years, and affirmed that the siege will continue to claim innocent civilian lives.
The Center also demanded a credible and serious investigation into the child’s death, and called on the international community to pressure Israel to lift its illegal siege on Gaza, which has continued for the past 11 years.
The Center asked the international community oblige Israel to abide by international laws, including the International Humanitarian Law, and all related agreements.
The al-Mezan Center for Human Rights issued a statement strongly denouncing the death of a Palestinian child, from the besieged Gaza Strip, after Israel refused to allow her to transfer out of the walled-in enclave, despite her serious health condition resulting from a metabolism disorder.
Al-Mezan said the family received a referral to treat the child at the al-Makassed Hospital, in occupied East Jerusalem, and were supposed to travel through the Erez terminal. But Israeli authorities kept denying the applications for permits to leave Gaza.
The child, Aya Ghaleb Abu Mitleq, 5, from Abasan al-Kabeera town, east of Khan Younis, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, has been suffering from serious health complications before the family managed to get a referral to al-Makassed Hospital.
The family got two appointments for the child; the first was supposed to be on February 02, 2017, but Israel did not even respond to their application for a permit to allow them to cross Erez terminal and head to occupied Jerusalem, despite repeated attempts b the family to get a response to their application.
The second missed appointment was supposed to be on March 19, 2017, and the third was scheduled for April 27, 2017. But again, Israeli authorities kept ignoring the repeated permit applications.
The child suffered another serious health complication, and was instantly hospitalized at Nasser Hospital, in Khan Younis, where she died on April 17, 2017.
Al-Mezan stated that three Palestinians have died under similar circumstances since the beginning of this year, and that Israel has only been approving approximately 20% of permit applications in the first quarter of this year, similar to 2016.
Al-Mezan said that the ongoing Israeli violations, and the deadly siege, are serious breaches of International Law, the Fourth Geneva Convention, and every related human rights and international treaty, which all guarantee medical treatment for those who need it.
It stated that Article #2/38 of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949, clearly says that occupying powers must not only allow all patients access to hospitals and medical centers, but also provide them with the professional treatment it grants its own citizens. The Article also guarantees protection to all civilians.
The human rights center further reported that International Humanitarian law, especially article #1/12 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of 1976, and Article #13 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, guarantee the Freedom of Movement, Social, Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
Al-Mezan strongly denounced the ongoing illegal and deadly Israeli siege, and held Israel fully responsible for the death of the child, one of the dozens of Palestinians who have died under similar conditions over the past ten years, and affirmed that the siege will continue to claim innocent civilian lives.
The Center also demanded a credible and serious investigation into the child’s death, and called on the international community to pressure Israel to lift its illegal siege on Gaza, which has continued for the past 11 years.
The Center asked the international community oblige Israel to abide by international laws, including the International Humanitarian Law, and all related agreements.
25 apr 2017
Mahmoud Abu Qwaider 10
Two Palestinian children, cousins aged 7 and 10, were killed Tuesday evening in an explosion of an object of the Israeli army remnants near their tent home in a Bedouin encampment in the Negev.
Arab48.com news website reported that both children, who were identified as Mahmoud and Omar Abu Qwaider, 10 and 7 years old respectively, were killed in their home tent in al-Zarnouk village in the Negev which was occupied in 1948.
Israeli police said that the two children were apparently playing with the object when it exploded resulting in their death. Investigation in the indecent is going on, the police added.
Two Palestinian Children Killed By Israeli Explosive Object In The Negev
Two Palestinian children, cousins aged 7 and 10, were killed Tuesday evening in an explosion of an object of the Israeli army remnants near their tent home in a Bedouin encampment in the Negev.
Arab48.com news website reported that both children, who were identified as Mahmoud and Omar Abu Qwaider, 10 and 7 years old respectively, were killed in their home tent in al-Zarnouk village in the Negev which was occupied in 1948.
Israeli police said that the two children were apparently playing with the object when it exploded resulting in their death. Investigation in the indecent is going on, the police added.
Two Palestinian Children Killed By Israeli Explosive Object In The Negev
Omar Abu Qwaider 7
Two Palestinian children, from a Bedouin community in the Negev, were killed on Tuesday, April 25th, 2017, after an explosive object detonated near them. The unexploded ordnance had apparently been dropped by Israeli soldiers during a previous live fire training, in Zarnouk village, in the Negev.
The two children have been identified as Omar Ismael Qweider, 8, and his cousin Mohammad Mahmoud Qweider, 10.
Israeli police spokeswoman Luba Samri said the children “were apparently playing with an ordnance when its exploded,” and claimed that the police were “investigating the incident.”
Some Israeli reports tried to claim that the incident was just an accident that took place “when a power generator exploded near the children.”
Mahmoud Abu Qwaider, the father of Mohammad, told Musawa TV Channel the children were killed by an explosive object dropped by the army during a previous training in the area.
He added that the children found the object while playing near their homes, in the same area where the Israeli army constantly conducts live fire training, including the use of explosives, and the soldiers are frequently seen running and training between the houses and dwellings, carrying explosives and bombs.
After the explosion, Israeli medics, soldiers and sappers arrived at the scene, and took the children to a hospital, but they were both already dead.
“The army invades and conducts trainings in our village on a nearly daily basis; they also frequently demolish homes, tents and barns,” he said, “The Israeli army, and the police, are fully responsible for this crime – the Police are still trying to deny the truth – at first they claimed the explosion was caused by a cooking gas jar, and then they claimed it was an electricity generator that malfunctioned… they just do not want to admit responsibility.”
He added that the family will resort to the legal system to file charges against the army for using civilian areas as training grounds, and leaving these explosives and dangerous materials behind.
“We live in constant danger and fear,” Mahmoud added, “Not only do they conduct trainings using explosives and live fire in our communities, there is a railway less than two hundred meters from our homes and there are no warning signs or barriers of any kind.”
“Israel just wants to bury the whole issue, conceal the truth and hide the facts,” he said, “We lost two children, and we will sue the police and the army, at least to prevent this incident from repeating itself over and over again – they need to stop using our communities and dwellings as training grounds for the army, using live fire and explosives…”
On Sunday, April 30, 2017, Israeli soldiers and police officers invaded the village, and delivered demolition orders targeting two homes.
The incident came just a few hours before Israeli officials of the so-called Bedouin Resettlement Committee, visited the village to “express their condolences to the families.
The village’s Local Council issued a statement denouncing the violation, and condemning the cruelty of such orders, especially since they came not long after the two children were killed by Israel’s own explosives, directly resulting from using civilian areas as training grounds for the military.
Many Palestinians, especially children, have been killed in different areas of occupied Palestine, by unexploded ordnance, as the military frequently uses Palestinian areas, including in the Jordan Valley of the occupied West Bank, as training grounds.
Related Items:
TV Report on Palestinian Child Seriously Injured By Israeli Explosive in Tubas
Palestinian Killed By Israeli Explosive In West Bank’s Northern Plains
Children Seriously Injured By Explosive Device Dropped By The Army
Teen Killed By An Explosive Dropped By The Army Near Tubas
Child Moderately Injured By Explosive Dropped By Army Near Hebron
Child Killed, Another Injured, When Explosive Detonated Near Them
Two Palestinian children, from a Bedouin community in the Negev, were killed on Tuesday, April 25th, 2017, after an explosive object detonated near them. The unexploded ordnance had apparently been dropped by Israeli soldiers during a previous live fire training, in Zarnouk village, in the Negev.
The two children have been identified as Omar Ismael Qweider, 8, and his cousin Mohammad Mahmoud Qweider, 10.
Israeli police spokeswoman Luba Samri said the children “were apparently playing with an ordnance when its exploded,” and claimed that the police were “investigating the incident.”
Some Israeli reports tried to claim that the incident was just an accident that took place “when a power generator exploded near the children.”
Mahmoud Abu Qwaider, the father of Mohammad, told Musawa TV Channel the children were killed by an explosive object dropped by the army during a previous training in the area.
He added that the children found the object while playing near their homes, in the same area where the Israeli army constantly conducts live fire training, including the use of explosives, and the soldiers are frequently seen running and training between the houses and dwellings, carrying explosives and bombs.
After the explosion, Israeli medics, soldiers and sappers arrived at the scene, and took the children to a hospital, but they were both already dead.
“The army invades and conducts trainings in our village on a nearly daily basis; they also frequently demolish homes, tents and barns,” he said, “The Israeli army, and the police, are fully responsible for this crime – the Police are still trying to deny the truth – at first they claimed the explosion was caused by a cooking gas jar, and then they claimed it was an electricity generator that malfunctioned… they just do not want to admit responsibility.”
He added that the family will resort to the legal system to file charges against the army for using civilian areas as training grounds, and leaving these explosives and dangerous materials behind.
“We live in constant danger and fear,” Mahmoud added, “Not only do they conduct trainings using explosives and live fire in our communities, there is a railway less than two hundred meters from our homes and there are no warning signs or barriers of any kind.”
“Israel just wants to bury the whole issue, conceal the truth and hide the facts,” he said, “We lost two children, and we will sue the police and the army, at least to prevent this incident from repeating itself over and over again – they need to stop using our communities and dwellings as training grounds for the army, using live fire and explosives…”
On Sunday, April 30, 2017, Israeli soldiers and police officers invaded the village, and delivered demolition orders targeting two homes.
The incident came just a few hours before Israeli officials of the so-called Bedouin Resettlement Committee, visited the village to “express their condolences to the families.
The village’s Local Council issued a statement denouncing the violation, and condemning the cruelty of such orders, especially since they came not long after the two children were killed by Israel’s own explosives, directly resulting from using civilian areas as training grounds for the military.
Many Palestinians, especially children, have been killed in different areas of occupied Palestine, by unexploded ordnance, as the military frequently uses Palestinian areas, including in the Jordan Valley of the occupied West Bank, as training grounds.
Related Items:
TV Report on Palestinian Child Seriously Injured By Israeli Explosive in Tubas
Palestinian Killed By Israeli Explosive In West Bank’s Northern Plains
Children Seriously Injured By Explosive Device Dropped By The Army
Teen Killed By An Explosive Dropped By The Army Near Tubas
Child Moderately Injured By Explosive Dropped By Army Near Hebron
Child Killed, Another Injured, When Explosive Detonated Near Them
19 apr 2017
Suhaib Mashahre 21
The Palestinian Health Ministry announced on Wednesday that a 21-year-old Palestinian youth, from al-Sawaher town was killed by Israeli soldiers near Etzion junction to the south of Bethlehem.
Head of emergency department at Palestinian Red Crescent Society, Mohammad Awad, said that Suhaib Mashahre was shot after allegedly carrying out a car-ramming attack resulting in the injury of a Jewish settler.
Earlier on Wednesday, Hebrew media sources reported that the Palestinian seriously wounded man was transferred to Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Occupied Jerusalem before he died hours later.
Israeli occupation forces tightened security measures at the entrances of Bethlehem city, closed the entrance of Beit Fujjar town and erected a barrier on the main road.
The Palestinian Health Ministry announced on Wednesday that a 21-year-old Palestinian youth, from al-Sawaher town was killed by Israeli soldiers near Etzion junction to the south of Bethlehem.
Head of emergency department at Palestinian Red Crescent Society, Mohammad Awad, said that Suhaib Mashahre was shot after allegedly carrying out a car-ramming attack resulting in the injury of a Jewish settler.
Earlier on Wednesday, Hebrew media sources reported that the Palestinian seriously wounded man was transferred to Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Occupied Jerusalem before he died hours later.
Israeli occupation forces tightened security measures at the entrances of Bethlehem city, closed the entrance of Beit Fujjar town and erected a barrier on the main road.