Ala’ Mohammad Shaham

Ala ShahamMarch 15, 2022: Ala’ Mohammad Shaham, 22, was shot and killed by Israeli forces in the Qalandia refugee camp, north of occupied Jerusalem in the West Bank, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

The Ministry added that the young man, identified as Ala’ Mohammad Shaham, 22, was shot with live rounds in the head and died instantly.

Soldiers also shot and injured six other young men with live rounds, who were all transferred to the Palestine Medical Complex in Ramallah.

Two more young men from the refugee camp were abducted by Israeli soldiers and taken to an unknown location.

The Palestinian was not part of protests but was heading to his work in the al-Ram town but was met with Israeli soldiers who invaded the refugee camp before they fired several fatal live rounds at him.

His father, Mohammad, said Ala’ loved his work and was a very compassionate, loving young man who always helped his family and his friends.

“He was the youngest of my three children,” the father said, “He was a hardworking young man who always helped us,” Mohammad added, “What can I say, thank God for everything, may his soul rest in peace…”

According to the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) investigation and eyewitnesses’ testimonies regarding the murder in Qalandia camp, at approximately 07:30 on Tuesday, 15 March 2022, a large Israeli force moved into Qalandia camp, north of occupied East Jerusalem, from two sides. During the invasion, Israeli snipers topped the roofs of houses and residential buildings while Israeli forces raided and searched several houses and abducted Wesam ‘Ataa Abu Latifa and Mohammed Hasan Abu Latifa.

Afterwards, dozens of Palestinian young men gathered on the camps streets and topped the houses roofs. They threw stones and empty bottles at the soldiers, who fired heavy live bullets at them. As a result, 7 civilians sustained live bullet wounds; one of them was ‘Alaa Mohammed al-Shahaam (24), who was shot with several live bullets in his head and all over his body while topped one of the houses’ roof. All the wounded were taken a Medical Complex in Ramallah, where medical sources announced the death of al-Shahaam upon his arrival at the hospital while the health condition of the other wounded was stable.

PCHR points out that Israeli murders of Palestinian civilians have been on the rise, including the use of snipers and direct shooting to kill, harm, and cause severe injuries, ascertaining that these crimes are done without justification So far in 2022, Israeli forces have killed 16 Palestinian civilians, including 4 children, and wounded tens of others, including women and children; all of them are residents of the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.

Nader Haitham Rayyan, 17

In related news, Israeli troops killed a Palestinian child, Nader Haitham Rayyan, 17, early Tuesday morning after storming the Balata refugee camp, east of the northern West Bank city of Nablus, in addition to shooting and injuring three more young men.

The slain child suffered serious wounds and was transferred to Rafidia Hospital in Nablus, where he succumbed to his wounds.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said Israeli soldiers have killed twenty Palestinians since the beginning of this year.

Since the beginning of 2022, the army has killed twenty Palestinians in the occupied Palestinian territories, the Ministry of Health reported.

Various Palestinian factions called on retaliation and ongoing resistance against the illegal occupation and the escalating Israeli crimes against the Palestinian people, their homes, lands, and holy sites.

Ala’ was from Qalandia refugee camp in the central West Bank. Source: IMEMC, PCHR