A Palestinian child was shot dead by Israeli forces on Tuesday during a military raid in the refugee camp of al-Dheisha, south of the occupied West Bank city of Bethlehem.

Local sources said Adam Ayyad, 15, was shot with a live bullet in the chest and rushed to the Beit Jala hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Another child was reportedly shot and injured in the hand by Israeli soldiers during the same raid.

Israeli forces broke into the camp and ransacked Palestinian houses, sparking confrontations, during which the soldiers fired live and rubber-coated steel bullets as well as sound and toxic gas canisters.

Meanwhile, the Israeli forces detained one youth after raiding his family's house in the area.

At least three Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces since the start of 2023.

Adam published a photo on his Facebook account of himself and 22-year-old Omar Mannaa on 6 December 2022, a day after Mannaa was shot and killed by the Israeli military during a similar raid on Al-Dehaisha refugee camp.

Adam visited Omar’s grave on Monday night in Al-Khader, a few hours prior to the Israeli raid.

11 Palestinians from Bethlehem were shot and killed by the Israeli army in 2022. Mannaa was Bethlehem’s last casualty of 2022.

Adam’s mother told reporters that her son had written a previous will, which she had torn up. “I told him that he’s my only one in this life, and to never do it again.”