In a West Financial institution clinic, the daddy of a nine-year-old Palestinian boy confirmed us the place the bullet shot by an Israeli soldier entered his son’s neck and the place it left his small physique by his backbone.
Kareem Sharaab had been outdoors his dwelling when the Israeli army entered his village within the occupied West Financial institution.
He’d been despatched out to the retailers for groceries. The brief stroll would change his life without end.
His grandfather, Hani, informed me what occurred subsequent. “There was nothing going on then. No clashes, nothing. The kid was just playing on the road. Out of nowhere, the sound of gunfire, and the voice of children screaming out that Kareem has been injured.”
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Kareem Sharaab was left paralysed when an Israeli bullet hit his backbone
Hani rushed all the way down to his grandson and carried his physique tons of of yards to an ambulance.
Paramedics fought to staunch the circulate of blood and save Kareem. Kareem’s father, Shadi, confirmed us a video of these moments.
“The first time I saw this, I ran to the bathroom to cry. I can’t bear it. I can’t handle it. It’s too much for me,” he informed me.
Kareem’s life was saved however he has been left paralysed from the waist down. He won’t ever stroll once more. His brothers and sisters are traumatised by what occurred, his father added.
“Look, before the incident, my children had normal lives,” Shadi stated. “Today, they’re startled by sounds and terrified when they see soldiers at checkpoints. They can’t get the idea out of their minds that a soldier will always shoot at you.”
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Kareem is carried by his father, Shadi, as he returns from physio therapy, whereas his grandfather, Hani, takes care of his wheelchair. Pic: Household handout
They’re one in every of tons of of households throughout the West Financial institution and East Jerusalem whose lives have been shattered by Israelis taking pictures their youngsters.
The loss of life toll of Palestinian youngsters killed by Israel in shootings and airstrikes within the occupied West Financial institution has doubled since 7 October final yr.
By the top of November, 170 beneath the age of 18 have misplaced their lives, in response to DCI (Protection for Kids Worldwide) Palestine and Save the Kids.
Of these killed 70 had been 15 or youthful and 4 had been under the age of 9. A minimum of 1,400 youngsters have reportedly been wounded.
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A number of the youngsters killed by Israelis within the occupied West Financial institution since final October’s Hamas-led assault on Israel, in response to DCI Palestine
In some instances, Israelis declare the kids they killed had been threatening troopers with knives, weapons or petrol bombs.
All instances involving youngsters or civilians being killed, the IDF informed us, are “thoroughly investigated”. 9-year-old Kareem’s case remains to be beneath investigation, 9 months after it occurred.
The Israeli army has strict open-fire laws. Troopers can solely use deadly hearth in life-threatening conditions and solely then as a final resort and are instructed to shoot on the legs if doable. Nonetheless, Israeli troopers are not often prosecuted or convicted for breaching these laws regardless of the excessive loss of life toll.
We went to Jenin to discover a household mourning one in every of Israel’s newest little one victims. The mom of 14-year-old Rayan Al Sayed, Reem, informed us of their loss.
“I miss him every hour,” she informed me. “I haven’t slept in two days. Every night I feel him. He comes home to me, and says ‘mom I’m here’, ‘mom I can see you’. When I pray, I see him in front of me, smiling, bless him.”
Rayan’s uncle, Fuad, took us to the place the place Israelis shot him twice, very near the household dwelling.
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Rayan Al Sayed, 14, was shot lifeless by Israeli forces
The Israeli army stated troopers had been attacked with explosives and firearms.
In an announcement, they stated: “During security forces’ activities to arrest a wanted individual in Jenin on 14 October 2024, terrorists opened fire at our forces from several locations, who responded with gunfire, and two armed terrorists were neutralised.
“Throughout the operation, a terrorist threw explosives at our forces, who responded with hearth, leading to recognized hits. The circumstances of the case are beneath investigation.”
Palestinian eyewitnesses we spoke to in Jenin denied the Israelis came under fire and said Rayan was unarmed and not throwing stones or anything else.
“One jeep began firing,” one eyewitness told us. “Then the opposite did as properly. Each did. The one over there fired straight at us right here, hitting the boy in his chest and neck.”
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Rayan together with his father
Rayan’s pals picked him up of their arms and rushed him away, taking him to hospital the place he died of his wounds not lengthy after arriving, video footage shot by an eyewitness confirmed. The footage didn’t seem to indicate anybody was armed.
Itamar Ben Gvir, the Israeli nationwide safety minister and far-right extremist, has referred to as for Israeli army laws to be relaxed to permit troopers to shoot any “potential” menace, together with stone throwers.
Its army insists the foundations haven’t been modified however in follow increasingly more youngsters and youngsters are being shot, many dying from their accidents, whether or not they’re throwing stones or not.
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Kareem subsequent to one in every of his siblings. Pic: Provided by household
Alison Griffin, head of battle and humanitarian campaigns at Save the Kids UK, stated the deaths of Palestinian youngsters within the West Financial institution and East Jerusalem since October 2023 spotlight “a highly concerning and ongoing pattern of violence against children in the context of occupation”.
She added: “As an occupying power, Israel has clear obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law to protect civilians, particularly children who are entitled to special protections.
“The usage of disproportionate and extreme drive, particularly towards youngsters, constitutes a grave violation of those legal guidelines.
“The vast majority of these children are being killed without any clear justification… it is essential that independent investigations are carried out to hold those responsible accountable.”
