A 13-year-old Palestinian boy was shot and killed Monday when riots broke out in Bethlehem in the West Bank, the child’s uncle and eyewitnesses told CNN.
Israeli security forces in the Aida Refugee Camp fired .22-caliber rounds towards “instigators” hurling rocks, killing one Palestinian, an Israel Defense Forces spokesman said. The IDF did not have information regarding the identity of the deceased.
AbdulRahman Obaidullah and a group of friends were walking from school to a local refugee center when clashes started in the Aida camp area, according to his uncle Fadi Obaidullah and eyewitnesses. The teenagers tried to hide, but Obaidullah was shot by a sniper in the chest, and one of his friends was shot in the leg, the eyewitnesses said. Obaidullah was rushed to the Beit Jala hospital where he was declared dead of a gunshot wound to the chest, according to Dr. Said Sarahneh, the Beit Jala hospital director.
“In recent days we have seen an increase in violence,” an IDF spokesman said, “There have been multiple violent riots in Northern Bethlehem and Al Aida refugee camp targeting civilian and security forces at Rachel’s tomb. Rioters have been attacking security forces by hurling rocks, Molotov cocktails and IEDs.” The Israeli military is aware of the incident and will carry out an investigation, the spokesman said.
