A 14-year-old Palestinian boy, identified by the Palestinian Ministry of Health as Moataz Iyad Daghlas, was shot and killed by Israeli forces on Monday evening in the village of Burqa, located north-west of Nablus in the occupied West Bank. Two other individuals were also wounded during the military operation, according to reports from the Palestinian news agency Wafa.
The Israeli military confirmed the incident in a statement, noting that soldiers opened fire after identifying individuals they claimed intended to throw stones at a road used by Israeli vehicles. The military stated that forces responded with gunfire to “neutralise the threat” and confirmed that several hits were made during the engagement.
According to the Palestinian Red Crescent, its teams were present to treat the wounded, but Israeli forces obstructed access to one individual and briefly detained three volunteer paramedics. Wafa reported that a 17-year-old was struck in the abdomen and pelvis, while a 19-year-old sustained a gunshot wound to the hand. Relatives of Moataz Daghlas stated that Israeli authorities are currently withholding his body.
Key facts
- The victim, Moataz Iyad Daghlas, was 14 years old at the time of his death.
- The incident occurred in the village of Burqa, north-west of Nablus.
- Two other individuals, a 17-year-old and a 19-year-old, were wounded in the same operation.
- The Israeli military stated forces opened fire to prevent stone-throwing at Israeli vehicles.
- The Palestine Red Crescent reported that three of its volunteer paramedics were briefly detained.
Background
According to UN data, since October 7, 2023, at least 1,143 Palestinians have been killed in the occupied West Bank, a figure that includes 250 children. The UN Human Rights Office has previously stated that the use of lethal force is only justified under international law when there is an imminent threat to life, noting that many cases involving stone-throwing accusations did not meet this criteria.
Source: BBC, Al Jazeera
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