The UN Human Rights Office in the occupied Palestinian territories (oPt) said that it is concerned about the Israeli killing of four Palestinians, two of them children, in one week.

In separate incidents over one week, Israeli occupation forces (IOF) shot and killed four Palestinians. On 23 July, IOF clashed with Palestinians after entering Nabi Saleh village, Ramallah, reportedly using sound bombs, tear gas, and live ammunition against youth throwing stones. During the clashes, IOF reportedly shot 17-year-old Mohammed Tamimi with live ammunition in the lower torso and from close range. Reports also suggest that an IOF roadblock at the village entrance impeded the ambulance evacuating Mohammed from reaching the nearest and better-equipped hospital.

In an appalling case, on Thursday 28 July, IOF shot and killed 11-year-old Mohammad al Alami, while returning from a shopping trip with his family. Reports indicate that Mohammad, his father, and two siblings (5 and 9-years of age) were reversing in their family vehicle, when IOF deployed by a cemetery near Beit Ummar, Hebron, opened fire with live ammunition from about 20 meters hitting the vehicle with a significant number of bullets. Mohammad was shot through the chest and died hours later.

During the funeral of Mohammad, a large IOF presence was deployed in Beit Ummar resulting in clashes with Palestinians, in which IOF shot and killed 20-year-old Shawkat Awad and injured at least 10 other Palestinians with live ammunition.

In a separate incident on Wednesday 27 July, IOF shot and killed 41-year-old Shadi Salim near Beita, south of Nablus. The circumstances of his killing are under verification. The victim’s body remains withheld by IOF.

The UN Human Rights Office is appalled at the continued use of live ammunition and other forms of lethal force by Israeli security forces, which seems to remain the first rather than the last resort of response in IOF operations. The abhorrent killing of an innocent 11-year-old boy by heavily armed soldiers while on a shopping trip with his family must be thoroughly and effectively investigated, and those responsible held to account, as must all incidents of excessive and unwarranted use of lethal force by IOF.