2017-P

Saba’ Obeid

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May 12, 2017: Saba’ Nidal Obeid, 22, was killed by an Israeli army sharpshooter who shot him in the heart during a nonviolent procession held in Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, in the West Bank.

The soldiers invaded the village during its weekly nonviolent procession against the Israeli Annexation Wall and illegal Jewish-only settlements. The village residents were also marching in solidarity with the hundreds of Palestinians detainees holding hunger strike in Israeli prisons.

Palestinian physicians and surgeons tried to revive the young man, and instantly moved him to surgery, but he died from his wounds due to the bullet that struck him directly in his heart.

Many Palestinians were shot with rubber-coated steel bullets, and dozens suffered the severe effects if teargas inhalation, as a result of the excessive Israeli military use of force against the protesters.

The soldiers also prevented journalists from entering the village, and declared it a “closed military zone,” a measure frequently used by the army to seal and isolate entire Palestinian communities. Nidal was from Salfit, in central West Bank. Source: IMEMC

Fatima Hajiji

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May 7, 2017: Fatima Afeef Abdul-Rahman Hajiji, 16, was killed by Israeli soldiers and police officers near the entrance of Damascus Gate in Jerusalem after the police claimed she attempted to stab a security officer.

Eyewitnesses said Fatima was standing at least ten meters away from the nearest soldier or officer, and that one of the soldiers started shouting “knife, knife,” before five soldiers fired a barrage of bullets at the her.

Fatima was first shot with several live rounds in the chest, and the soldiers continued 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.

The soldiers also 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.

Fatima was from Qarawat Bani Zeid village near Ramallah, in the central part of the West Bank. Source: IMEMC

Mohammad Qweider

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April 25, 2017: Mohammad Mahmoud Qweider, 10, was killed by Israeli explosives dropped by Israeli soldiers who earlier conducted live-fire training in Zarnouk village, in the Negev. His cousin, Omar, 8, was also killed in the same incident.

Mahmoud Abu Qwaider, the father of Mohammad, said 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 that the soldiers are frequently seen running and training between the houses and dwellings.

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.

Some Israeli reports claimed that the incident was just an accident that took place “when a power generator exploded near the children.”

Israeli police spokeswoman Luba Samri said the children “were apparently playing with an ordnance when it exploded,” and claimed that the police were “investigating the incident.”

The incident is one of dozens of similar events that led to many casualties, including fatalities, not only in the Negev, but also in Bedouin communities, especially in the Jordan Valley and the Northern Plains of the West Bank.

On Sunday, April 30, 2017, Israeli soldiers and police officers invaded Zarnouk village, and delivered demolition orders targeting two homes.

The village’s Local Council issued a statement denouncing the demolition 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.

Mohammad was from Zarnouk village in the Negev. Source: IMEMC

Omar Qweider

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April 25, 2017: Omar Ismael Qweider, 8, was killed by explosives dropped by Israeli soldiers who earlier conducted live-fire training in Zarnouk village in the Negev. His cousin, Mohammad, 10, was also killed in the same incident.

Mahmoud Abu Qwaider, the father of Mohammad, said 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 that the soldiers are frequently seen running and training between the houses and dwellings.

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.

Some Israeli reports claimed that the incident was just an accident that took place “when a power generator exploded near the children.”

Israeli police spokeswoman Luba Samri said the children “were apparently playing with an ordnance when it exploded,” and claimed that the police were investigating the incident.

The incident is one of dozens of similar events that led to many casualties, including fatalities, not only in the Negev, but also in Bedouin communities, especially in the Jordan Valley and the Northern Plains of the West Bank.

On Sunday, April 30, 2017, Israeli soldiers and police officers invaded Zarnouk village, and delivered demolition orders targeting two homes.

The village’s Local Council issued a statement denouncing the demolition 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.

Omar was from Zarnouk village in the Negev. Source: IMEMC

Soheib Mashahra

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April 19, 2017: Soheib Mousa Mashahra, 21, was killed by Israeli army fire after his car crashed into the rear of an Israeli bus near Etzion junction, south of Bethlehem in the West Bank.

The Israeli army claims the young man carried out a “deliberate ramming attack.”

The soldiers fatally shot the young Palestinian man while he was still behind the driver’s wheel, after claiming “they were certain the incident was a deliberate attack,” and that the soldiers later “found a knife inside the car.”

Photographs and videos from the scene, and the fact that his car crashed into the rear of the bus, indicate a normal traffic accident.

Israeli daily Haaretz said an Israeli man, 60, suffered a mild-to-moderate head wound, and was moved to Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem. Soheib was from Sawahra town near Jerusalem. Source: IMEMC

Jassem Nakhla

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April 10, 2017: Jassem Nakhla, 17, died from serious wounds he suffered on March 23, 2017, after Israeli soldiers opened fire on a Palestinian car near the al-Jalazoun refugee camp north of Ramallah in the West Bank.

His friend, Mohammad Hattab, 17, was instantly killed during the attack, and Jassem had been clinically dead since his injury and was on life support. Their two other friends remain in comas after being shot in the upper body.

The Israeli army claimed its soldiers who were stationed on a fortified military tower had opened fire at the car after its passengers “hurled Molotov cocktails at the tower.”

A witness told Defence for Children International (DCI) that the soldiers opened fire on the car after it stalled near the settlement of Beit El, and added that the 17-year-old driver was shot at after he stepped out of the vehicle. He reentered the car and tried to start it, but it didn’t start, and the soldiers approached the car and opened fire on the four children, according to the witness.

Palestinian government spokesperson Tareq Rishmawi called on the international community to intervene and provide protection to Palestinian people living under the ongoing Israeli occupation, and added that the soldiers have killed six Palestinian children since the beginning of this year. Jassem was from the al-Jalazoun refugee camp, north of Ramallah. Source: IMEMC

Ahmad Ghazal

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April 1, 2017: Ahmad Zaher Fathi Ghazal, 17, was shot and killed by Israeli police officers near Al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem after he stabbed and mildly injured two Israeli settlers and moderately wounded a police officer who was chasing him. He ran to to hide in a residential building before being shot. An eyewitness said, “They could have detained him — he was surrounded by a large number of soldiers. But they executed him.” The Israeli army and police closed Bab al-‘Amoud, leading to the Sahera Gate and the al-Waad Street in Jerusalem, called for reinforcement, and imposed a tight siege in the area, preventing Palestinians and journalists from entering. Clashes later took place in the area and Israeli soldiers detained 20 Palestinians, including 17 merchants, and forced all Palestinian stores to close. Ahmad was from Nablus, in the northern part of the West Bank. Source: IMEMC

Seham Nimir

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March 29, 2017: Seham Rateb Nimir, 49, was killed by Israeli soldiers in east Jerusalem after allegedly attacking soldiers with scissors. Palestinians who saw the shooting said that she wasn’t carrying any weapons, did not attempt to attack the soldiers, and that an argument had erupted between her and the soldiers baefore one of them shot her with his pistol, and another shot her with his rifle. The soldiers subsequently abducted one of her daughters and took her to an unknown destination. Seham bled to death as her body was left on the ground and soldiers prevented people from approaching her (see video).

Seham was the mother on Mustafa Nimir, who was killed by the Israeli soldiers on September 5, 2016 after the soldiers claimed he attempted to ram them with his car. The army later changed their stance on the incident, saying, “his cousin was recklessly driving the car, leading to the fatal shooting.”

Israel held her corpse at a morgue until releasing it to her family on April 26, 2017, and was buried at a cemetery in Shu’fat refugee camp, next to her son, Mustafa. Seham was from Shu’fat refugee camp, north of Jerusalem. Source: IMEMC

Mohammad Hattab

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March 23, 2017: Mohammad Mahmoud Hattab, 17, was killed by Israeli soldiers who were stationed on a military tower surrounding Beit El settlement near the al-Jalazoun refugee camp, north of Ramallah, in the West Bank.

The soldiers fired several live rounds at a Palestinian car, reportedly after Mohammad and three others in the car threw Molotov cocktails at the military tower.

Mohammad was instantly killed by gunshot wounds to his chest and shoulder. The three other teenagers suffered life-threatening wounds after being shot in the upper-body, including one who was shot in the head.

A witness told Defence for Children International (DCI) that the soldiers opened fire on the car after it stalled near the settlement of Beit El, and added that the 17-year-old driver was shot at after he stepped out of the vehicle, then he reentered the car and tried to start it, but it didn’t start, then the soldiers approached the car and opened fire on the four children.

On April 10, 2017 one of his wounded friends, identified as Jassem Nakhla, 17, died from his serious wounds, while their two friends remain in comas after being shot in the upper body. Mohammad was from the al-Jalazoun refugee camp. Source: IMEMC

Yousef Abu ‘Athra

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March 22, 2017: Yousef Sha’ban Abu ‘Athra, 16, was killed by Israeli soldiers who fired shells and live rounds into Palestinian lands in Rafah in the southern part of the Gaza Strip. Two other Palestinians suffered moderate-to-severe injuries from the attack. The Israeli army claimed it opened fire on Palestinians who aroused suspicion by heading towards the border fence. Following the attack, Israeli tanks carried out a limited invasion into Palestinian lands, close to the fence. In a press release, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) said several civilians intended to sneak into Israel for work when the army fired artillery shells, one striking the child to the upper part of his body. Yousef was from Rafah. Source: IMEMC