Israeli soldiers shot a 14-year-old Palestinian boy at close range in a refugee camp in the occupied West Bank and then prevented medical teams from reaching him as he lay critically wounded, according to eyewitnesses and verified accounts.
The boy, Jad Jadallah, was shot last November in al-Far'a refugee camp. After the shooting, around 14 Israeli soldiers reportedly surrounded the area and stopped Palestinian ambulances from accessing the injured child. Witnesses said Jad remained on the ground for a long period while bleeding heavily.
Although Israeli soldiers receive training in basic trauma care, no immediate life-saving assistance was provided to the boy, according to those present. Family members said Jad tried to signal for help, but soldiers nearby did not respond.
The Israel Defence Forces said soldiers gave “initial medical treatment” after checking that the boy was not carrying explosives. However, the military did not provide details about what treatment was given or when it was administered.
The Israeli army claimed the boy had thrown a stone, an act it says can justify the use of lethal force. Jad’s family and Israeli rights group B'Tselem rejected the claim and alleged attempts were made to falsely portray the boy as a threat. The military did not respond to specific questions on this allegation.
Jad was later taken away in an Israeli military vehicle. It remains unclear when and where he died or how many times he was shot, as the authorities have not returned his body or disclosed medical findings.
Paramedics from the Palestinian Red Crescent said they arrived near the scene quickly but were blocked by soldiers and forced to wait while the boy lay injured. Jad’s mother said she was also stopped when she tried to reach her son.
The incident occurred in the West Bank, where Israeli military raids are frequent, particularly in refugee camps. The United Nations says dozens of Palestinian children have been killed by Israeli forces in the area in recent years.
Human rights groups say the case raises serious concerns about the use of force and the denial of medical assistance. Many details of Jad’s death remain unknown due to the refusal of Israeli authorities to release his body or provide full information.
With inputs from BBC