Wednesday, December 09, 2020

Palestinian teen killed by Israel forces in protest, Palestinians say

Israeli soldiers fatally shot a 15-year-old Palestinian today during protests in the occupied West Bank

December 4, 2020 

Israeli soldiers fatally shot a 15-year-old Palestinian today during protests in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian officials said, although the Israeli military said its forces had not used live fire, Reuters reports.

The teenager, named as Ali Ayman Saleh Nasser, was hit by a bullet in his abdomen and was taken in critical condition for treatment at a hospital in the occupied Palestinian city of Ramallah where he succumbed to his wounds, the Palestinian Health Ministry said.

An Israeli military spokeswoman said soldiers had used what she described as "riot dispersal means" to confront dozens of Palestinians who were hurling rocks at soldiers and trying to roll rocks and burning tyres at Israeli vehicles.

"The reports of the use of live fire during the riot are not true and claims about a number of rioters injured and one killed are known," the spokeswoman said.

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The Palestinian teenager was involved in a weekly protest against illegal Israeli settlements at Al-Mughayyir village near Ramallah, said Marzouq Abu Naeem, a member of the village council.

"This ugly crime is a war crime and a crime against humanity," the Palestinian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Palestinians want to establish a state in the occupied West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, territories Israel captured and occupied in the 1967 Middle East war.

Palestinians believe Israel's illegal settlements deny them a viable state and, like many countries, see the settlements as an obstacle to peace. Israel disputes this view.

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EU orders Israel to investigate Palestinian child's death

December 7, 2020 
15-year-old Palestinian, Ali Ayman Saleh Nasser, shot dead by Israeli soldiers in the occupied West Bank on 4 December 2020 [MarkStokeSouth/Twitter]

December 7, 2020 

The European Union (EU) has ordered a further investigation into the case of a 15-year-old Palestinian shot dead by Israeli soldiers in the occupied West Bank on Friday.

Ali Ayman Saleh Nasser was hit by a bullet in his abdomen during a protest he was observing against illegal Israeli settlements at Al-Mughayyir village, near Ramallah, on Friday.

"This shocking incident must be swiftly and fully investigated by the Israeli authorities in order to bring the perpetrators to justice," said the EU delegation responsible for Palestinian affairs.

Israeli forces attacked the Palestinians who were throwing stones at them with bullets from the entrance to the village as "riot dispersal means".

A statement released by the Israeli military said that its security forces had used 0.22 Ruger ammunition during the protest. Those bullets are smaller and less powerful than normal rounds but are still lethal.

"The [Israel Defense Forces] is aware of the claim that there were wounded Palestinians, and one Palestinian fatality. Following this incident, a military police investigation has been launched," it added.

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Ali was rushed to a hospital in the occupied Palestinian city of Ramallah where he was declared dead, the Palestinian Health Ministry said.

Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh condemned the shooting of Ali as "a new crime added to the occupation's long record".

"May Ali's soul rest in eternal peace," he added.

The EU further denounced the "shocking" killing on Twitter, adding the "incident must be swiftly and fully investigated".

"How many more Palestinian children will be subject to the excessive use of lethal force by the Israeli security forces?" it asked.

US Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Nickolay Mladenov, also took to Twitter to express his outrage at the killing, calling it "appalling and unacceptable." He wrote: "Children enjoy special protection under international law and must be protected from violence."

Ali's funeral was held in Al-Mughayyir village on Saturday with thousands of Palestinians attending.

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