March 15, 2022: Nader Haitham Rayyan, 17, was shot and killed by Israeli forces who invaded Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus in the northern part of the occupied West Bank. In addition to killing Nader, the soldiers also injured three other youth with live rounds.
Medical sources in Nablus have confirmed that the soldiers fatally shot Nader Haitham Rayyan, 17, in addition to causing moderate-to-severe wounds to three other Palestinians. Palestinian medics rushed the slain child and the wounded Palestinians to Rafidia hospital in Nablus.
According to investigations conducted by the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) and an eyewitness statement, at approximately 06:00 on Tuesday, 15 March 2022, an Israeli special force from “Yamam Unit” sneaked into al-Quds Street adjacent to Balata camp, east of Nablus, via white Volkswagen “Shuttle” vehicle and surrounded ‘Ammar ‘Arafat (22)’s house. A few minutes later, several Israeli backup patrols moved into the camp, while “Yamam Unit” arrested ‘Arafat and slowly withdrew towards Huwwara military checkpoint. During their withdrawal, Palestinian young men chased the patrols and threw stones at them, while Israeli soldiers opened fire at the Palestinians, wounding 3 of them, including a child.
At around 06:30, a motorcycle carrying two children was passing behind the Israeli patrols and traveling on the left side of al-Quds Street near al-Quds School. Israeli forces opened fire at the motorcycle, so the two children got off and ran towards a sloping area near the school while Israeli soldiers continued to open fire at them. After the soldiers’ withdrawal, the body of Nader Haitham Fathi Rayyan (16) was found and taken to Rafidia Hospital in Nablus. It turned out that Rayyan sustained wounds in his abdomen after being shot with a live bullet that entered his abdomen and exited his chest. Also, he was shot with another live bullet that penetrated his chest from the right side.
Media sources said several armored military vehicles invaded the al-Quds Street in Balata, stormed and ransacked the home of Ammar Arafat before abducting him.
They added that the soldiers immediately started firing live rounds and a barrage of gas bombs after invading the refugee camp, leading to protests.
They added that the soldiers fired many live rounds at the protesters, in addition to gas bombs, concussion grenades, and rubber-coated steel bullets.
In related news, undercover Israeli soldiers invaded the Qalandia refugee camp north of occupied Jerusalem, leading to protests.
Nader was from Balata camp, in the northern West Bank. Source: IMEMC, PCHR