On Tuesday, February 22, 2022, a Palestinian boy was proclaimed dead after the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) opened fire at a group of youths in Khader town, south of Bethlehem.
The Palestinian health ministry said that a teenager identified as Mohamed Shahada was shot dead by IOF gunfire in Bakoush area in the west of Khader town.
Israeli media sources claimed that the victim was stoning Israeli troops during a military raid into the town, while eyewitnesses affirmed that the boy was playing with his friends near his family house when he was shot.
The sources said that the IOF detained the teen after seriously injuring him and prevented Red Crescent paramedics from reaching him.
Over the past year, Israeli forces killed 79 Palestinian children and arrested 1266 others, in flagrant violation of the international children’s rights law.
The data proves Israel’s systematic targeting of Palestinian children as it escalates its arrest campaigns against Palestinian minors by 100% in comparison to 2020 where 600 minors were detained.
