Palestinian Child Killed by Israelis despite Being 150 Meters Away from Gaza Fence
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - A Palestinian child was killed by Israeli soldiers during protests on 8 February despite standing some 150 meters away from border fence between the occupied Palestinian lands (Israel) and the Gaza Strip.
16-year-old Hassan Nabil Ahmad Nofal had joined a group of youth participating in Great Return March protests around 3.30pm last Friday, according to Defence for Children International – Palestine (DCIP),
The group was standing around 150 meters from the fence when Israeli soldiers fired tear gas canisters directly at the youngsters; Hassan was struck on the right side of his head, fracturing his skull, The Middle East Monitor reported.
Taken to Al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital for emergency care, Hassan then underwent surgery in Shifa hospital, “where he remained in critical condition”, DCIP stated.
Dr Hazem Kahil, a neurosurgery specialist at Shifa hospital, told DCIP that the surgery was performed to stop a brain bleed, but Hassan was pronounced dead on 12 February.
“Tear gas canisters can become deadly weapons when they are fired and strike a child’s torso or head,” said Ayed Abu Eqtaish, head of DCIP’s Accountability Programme.
“Since the start of 2018, DCIP has documented five cases of Palestinian children who died after being struck in the head with Israeli-fired tear gas canisters”.
DCIP noted that Hassan is “among four children from the Gaza Strip and two further children from the West Bank to be killed by Israeli forces since the beginning of the year”.
Palestinians have been holding protests every Friday since the end of March demanding the implementation of refugees’ right of return to the lands they lost during the establishment of the state of Israel, and to bring an end to the 11-year blockade on Gaza.
Over 250 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since then, including medics, journalists and children, and thousands have been injured.
