Conflicts & War

Palestinian child shot by Israeli troops succumbs to wounds

Jerusalem, Jun 5 (EFE).- A three-year-old Palestinian boy died on Monday after he was shot by Israeli soldiers in the occupied West Bank last week, Palestinian officials confirmed.

Mohamed Haitham al-Tamimi was riding in a car with his father when they were caught in an exchange of fire between Palestinians and Israeli soldiers in Nabi Saleh village, near Ramallah.

Armed Palestinians opened fire at the Israeli settlement of Neveh Tzuf Thursday evening, according to an Israeli military spokesperson, who said Israeli forces stationed at a nearby military post responded with fire.

The toddler and the man were shot in the gunfight, the spokesperson said.

The boy was transferred to the Sheba hospital near Tel Aviv in critical condition and remained on life support until he was declared dead, while his father was admitted to a hospital in Ramallah with gunshot wounds to his shoulder.

“The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) regrets harm to non-combatants and is committed to doing everything in its power to prevent such incidents. The incident is under review,” the army said on Friday.

The child’s father, Haitham al-Tamimi, said he was driving to visit a relative who lived nearby when he and his son were shot, according to media outlets.

The Israel-Palestine situation has been tense for months, with regular Israeli incursions into the West Bank, assaults by Jewish settlers and attacks by Palestinians against Israelis.

So far this year, 122 Palestinians have been killed, mostly militiamen in violent clashes with Israeli troops, but also civilians, including 21 minors.

On the Israeli side, 20 people have been killed, mostly settlers, including three minors. EFE

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