Defense for Children International - Palestine (DCIP) said that Israeli forces will continue to torture and carry out extrajudicial and unlawful killings against Palestinian children as long as systemic impunity is the norm and the international community remains complicit.

The DCIP confirmed in a statement, a copy of which obtained by SAFA, that Israeli forces killed 7 Palestinian children in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip since the start of this year. The last of whom was Amer Snouber, 16, from Nablus, who was beaten by the Israeli soldiers until he was killed on 24 October.

According to information collected by DCIP, Snouber was helping his 17-year-old friend move his broken-down car near the village of Turmus’ayya, located northeast of Ramallah.

"Under international law, intentional lethal force is only justified in circumstances where a direct threat to life or of serious injury is present," added the DCIP.

However, investigations and evidence collected by DCIP regularly suggest that Israeli forces use excessive and lethal force against Palestinian children in circumstances that do not appear to be warranted and may amount to extrajudicial or wilful killings.

Previously, Israeli forces shot and killed Mohammad Matar, 16, on August 19 in the West Bank as he and two other Palestinian teenagers approached a road used by Israeli settlers near the West Bank village of Deir Abu Meshal, located northwest of Ramallah. Israeli forces in a nearby concealed position opened-fire with live ammunition, killing Matar and injuring the other boys.