The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for ​ Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) expressed deep concern about the killing of another Palestine refugee child by Israeli gunfire.

According to initial reports, Mohammad Daadas, a 15-year-old Palestine refugee child from Askar refugee camp was fatally injured by Israeli forces’ live fire in the abdomen, on 5 November 2021. Protests were on-going in the nearby village of Deir al-Hatab  against Elon Moreh, an illegal Israeli settlement built on lands seized from neighbouring Palestinian villages.

“Mohammad’s killing adds to the ever-growing number of Palestinians, including minors, killed by Israeli forces, in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem”, UNRWA said in a press release issued on Thursday.”

Just over two months ago, a 15-year-old refugee boy was killed by an Israeli soldier in Balata Camp. In 2021, Israeli forces killed 69 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, including 27 refugees and 16 children by live ammunition. Some 1,134 Palestinians have been injured by live fire since the beginning of the year.

UNRWA called on the Israeli military “to cease use of live ammunition against unarmed civilians who pose no immediate danger to life and to exercise maximum restraint in their use of force of other non-lethal weapons. The use of excessive force and live ammunition targeting children must stop. All children have a right to life and must be protected”.

UNRWA also called on Israel “to investigate these fatalities and to hold accountable those who violate international standards. Without thorough and transparent investigations, concerns over continued impunity for serious international law violations remain.  As an occupying force, Israeli military forces are obligated to protect the lives and ensure the dignity of Palestinians living under their control”.