July 22, 2017: Odai Aziz Nawaj’a, 17, was killed by an explosive, which was dropped by Israeli soldiers during one of their frequent military drills, detonated near him, in Khirbit Ebzeeq village, near Tubs, in northeaster West Bank.
Odai suffered various serious injuries, and died from his wounds at the Turkish Hospital, in Tubas.
Eyewitnesses said Nawaj’a was standing in the shade of a tree when apparently stepped on the explosive or moved it, and suffered life-threatening injuries that led to his death.
Nawaj’a village is a small Palestinian community that is frequently targeted by the Israeli army, especially since the soldiers repeatedly conduct live fire training, which also includes the use of explosives and bombs.
There are approximately forty families of shepherds and farmers in Khirbet Ebzeeq; they were displaced from their homes and towns prior to the establishment of Israel, in 1948, and fled to the West Bank.
The village is one of the dozens of villages and communities that are not recognized by Israel, but under its full control; therefore, it has no infrastructure or any services, including healthcare and running water.
Hundreds of Palestinians, mainly shepherds and children, have been killed by landmines and explosives dropped by the army, in addition to hundreds of injuries, many leading to permanent disabilities, since Israel occupied the West Bank in 1967. Odai was from in Khirbit Ebzeeq village, near Tubas. Source: IMEMC