Holy Land: 13 year old boy killed by Israeli sniper

Omar Abu al-Nil - Image DCIP

Source: DCIP/UNESCO

A 13 year-old boy has died from his wounds after an Israeli sniper shot him in the neck on 21 August in Gaza - human rights groups report. Omar Abu al-Nil was shot during a protest on 21 August, east of Gaza City's Shujaiya neighbourhood, near the boundary fence with Israel.

Omar was watching the demonstrations 70 to 100 meters from the fence when the Israeli sniper fired a live round at him, according to a field investigation by Defense for Children International Palestine. (DCIP)

He lost consciousness immediately, and was rushed to the al-Shifa hospital for surgery and remained in intensive care for several days. He died shortly after midnight on 28 August.

Omar was one of 24 children injured by Israeli occupation forces on that day. At least three other children were shot with live ammunition in their lower limbs.

Omar's death brings to 73 the number of Palestinian children killed by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip since the beginning of this year.

"Israeli forces routinely shoot and kill Palestinian children with impunity in circumstances that suggest unlawful and wilful killings," Ayed Abu Eqtaish, DCIP's accountability program director, said.

Abu Eqtaish called on the international community "to hold Israel accountable by ending weapons sales and support for Israeli forces."