Tragedy in Turmus Ayya: Palestinian-American Teen Killed by Israeli Forces Amid Rising West Bank Tensions
A 14-year-old Palestinian-American boy, Omar Mohammed Saada Rabea, was killed by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank on Sunday, Palestinian officials reported. The incident occurred on the outskirts of Turmus Ayya, also leaving two other 14-year-old boys injured, one seriously.
Key Points:
- The Incident: Israeli military claims its troops fired at three "terrorists" throwing stones at a highway, endangering civilians.
- Palestinian Response: The Palestinian foreign ministry condemned the killing as an "extrajudicial killing" by Israeli forces.
- US Involvement: The US has yet to comment, amidst Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's scheduled meeting with President Donald Trump to discuss the Gaza conflict, Iran, and US tariffs.
- Rising Violence: Violence in the West Bank has surged since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
- Casualties: Hundreds of Palestinians have been killed during intensified Israeli search-and-arrest raids.
Eyewitness and Official Accounts:
Turmus Ayya's mayor reported that Omar Rabea was killed near the town entrance, an area with a significant Palestinian-American population. The Palestinian Red Crescent confirmed that one boy was shot in the lower abdomen and another in the thigh.
According to AFP, one of the injured boys, Abdul Rahman Shehadeh, said a soldier shot him while he was collecting fruit. Ayoub Asaad, the father of the third boy, stated that his son, also a US citizen, was delayed at a military checkpoint while being transported to a hospital.
IDF Statement:
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that soldiers "identified three terrorists who hurled rocks toward the highway, thus endangering civilians driving." The soldiers fired, "eliminating one terrorist and hitting two additional terrorists."
Condemnation and Calls for Accountability:
The Palestinian Authority's foreign ministry condemned the "use of live fire against three children" and accused Israel of continued impunity as an occupying power. The UN human rights chief has described the situation in the West Bank as "extremely alarming," noting the deaths of hundreds of Palestinians, including many children, in Israeli operations.
Background:
Since October 7, 2023, at least 909 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank, including 191 children. Over the same period, 51 Israelis have been killed in Palestinian attacks.
The presence of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, housing approximately 700,000 Jews, remains a contentious issue. These settlements are considered illegal under international law, a view disputed by Israel.