Killing of Palestinian children and teens by Israel surges in West Bank
The article reports a significant surge in the deaths of Palestinian children and teenagers in the West Bank since the October 7, 2023, conflict began. It cites data from human rights groups and Palestinian authorities to illustrate the sharp increase in fatalities compared to historical averages.
Why it matters
The data highlights the escalating humanitarian crisis and the severe impact of the ongoing conflict on minors in the occupied West Bank.
Alia al-Hallaq's son Mohammed was nine when he was killed by an Israeli Army bullet last October, but the Palestinian homemaker still speaks of herself as a mother of five, not four.
"I still haven't accepted the idea of the loss. I often sit in the courtyard of the house and look at Mohammed's grave below, and I cry while making sure that my children don't see me," she told AFP .
She said Mohammed was killed after running away from soldiers patrolling their village of Al-Rihiya, in the south of the occupied West Bank.
Hallaq's uncle, also named Mohammed Hallaq, told AFP that his nephew was killed by a stray bullet during a confrontation between the army patrol and a group of older youths.
The bullet travelled through Mohammed's abdomen, according to emergency services.
"Mohammed's killing was the end," his mother said.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in