Israel accused of another war crime after boy, 8, shot dead

Israel has been accused by various experts of committing another war crime, after an eight-year-old boy was shot dead while playing in the street last November.

Further footage and analysis appears to show that Adam, a young Palestinian boy who lived in the West Bank, had not been armed when Israeli Defence Forces opened fire on him and a group of local boys.

An investigation has now pieced together the events which led to the deaths of Adam and Basil, 15, as they were playing on a street on November 29, 2023.

When presented with evidence, Ben Saul, the United Nations special rapporteur on human rights and counter-terrorism, said Adam’s death appears to be a ‘war crime’.

The IDF has continuously denied wrongdoing and claimed Basil was carrying an explosive when they opened fire.

They added: ‘Live fire is used only in order to remove immediate threats or for arrest purposes, following arrest protocols after exhausting other options.’

Adam had been standing in the street with his older brother, Baha, 14, and nine other boys.

An Israeli armed convoy was moving past, thought to be leaving recent operations in the nearby Jenin refugee camp.

Video footage shows the boys looking at the convoy as it moves past, when the driver’s door suddenly opens.

Gunfire then rang out, with 11 shots counted – some hit cars and nearby buildings. Two hit Basil in the chest, and one hit young Adam, as he tried to run away from the gunfire.

Baha recalled dragging his baby brother away from the scene, screaming for help.

He told the BBC: ‘I was in a state of shock; I wasn’t even thinking about myself. I tried to speak to him. I started saying, “Adam, Adam!” But his soul was basically leaving his body because he didn’t answer.’

Basil was closest to the gunfire, and has been accused by Israeli forces of holding an explosive.

The teenager was seen holding something in his hand, though it’s unclear what this was.

But experts have agreed, the use of such force on young children calls for an investigation.

Mr Saul added: ‘For Adam, this appears to be a violation of the International Humanitarian Law prohibitions on deliberately, indiscriminately or disproportionately attacking civilians, a war crime, and a violation of the human right to life.’

The IDF has insisted the boys were about to hurl explosives at their vehicles, which was putting them in immediate danger.

They are currently ‘reviewing’ the circumstances of Adam and Basil’s deaths, which is normal for each death of a child in the West Bank in relation to the IDF.

But it’s just one of many deaths linked to the Israeli Defence Forces of young children.

In January, a recording of six-year-old Hind Rajab sparked outrage as she was heard pleading for help while sitting amongst the bullet-riddled bodies of her family in Gaza.

The IDF has said its forces ‘were not present near the vehicle or within the firing range of the described vehicle’, and said the incident has been passed on for investigation.

But satellite imagery verified by the Washington Post, taken an hour after the phone call with Hind’s cousin Layan that day, appears to show four Israeli armored vehicles up the road from where the family’s car was stopped.

The Palestinian Red Crescent claims this is not an isolated incident and similar attacks have been happening ‘systemically’.

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