Israeli Police Kill Palestinian Family in West Bank Shooting Incident
Israeli police have fatally shot a Palestinian family in the occupied West Bank, killing two young brothers and their parents. The victims, identified as Mohammed, aged five, Othman, aged seven—who was blind and had special needs—their mother Waad Bani Odeh, 35, and father Ali Bani Odeh, 37, were all shot in the head and face during the attack.
Details of the Tragic Event
The family was driving through their hometown of Tamoun late on Saturday when Israeli forces opened fire without warning. According to reports, they had been in the nearby city of Nablus to purchase clothes for the upcoming Eid festival, which marks the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. The attack occurred as they returned from this shopping trip, a time when families often stay up late during the fasting period.
Khaled, 11, the oldest sibling, survived the shooting and recounted the harrowing experience. He stated that he heard his mother crying and his father praying before they died. After the gunfire ceased, Israeli border police dragged him from the wreckage, taunted him about the murders of his family, and physically assaulted him. Khaled reported that one of the officers said, "we killed dogs," during the incident.
Context of Rising Violence
This killing comes amid a surge of Israeli violence against Palestinian civilians in the West Bank, following the launch of a war on Iran by Israel and the United States at the end of February. Over the past two weeks, Israeli settlers have shot six civilians dead during invasions of Palestinian olive groves, villages, and grazing land. Additionally, one man died after inhaling military-grade teargas used by the Israeli army.
The attack on the Bani Odeh family brought the total number of Palestinians killed to 11 in recent incidents. Earlier on the same day, Israeli settlers shot and killed Amir Moatasem Odeh, 28, in Qusra south of Nablus, and stabbed his father, who was hospitalized in serious condition.
Response and Investigations
Israeli police and military officials provided a statement, claiming the family was killed during a joint operation aimed at arresting suspects involved in terrorist activity. They asserted that forces opened fire when they "perceived an immediate threat" after the vehicle accelerated. However, when questioned about the threat posed by the unarmed family or potential violations of rules of engagement, both the police and military declined to comment.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health confirmed that all four victims were shot in the head and face, with Ali also sustaining gunshot wounds to the chest and left hand. Initially, Israeli forces prevented ambulances from reaching the scene, as reported by the Palestinian Red Crescent. Later, the military towed the family car away, according to witness accounts and video evidence shared on social media.
Community Outrage and Condemnation
Mansour Abu Islam, a neighbour and cousin of Ali, expressed profound grief and anger, stating, "What did this family do? They went to buy Eid necessities, and to put a smile on those children’s faces. This is clear evidence that Palestinian lives have no value." He also noted that the gunmen were an undercover unit driving a car with Palestinian license plates, not in uniform.
The Israeli military has command responsibility for all forces operating in occupied Palestine. A spokesperson attributed the killings to border police and referred further inquiries to the police, who stated that the circumstances are under review by relevant authorities.
