Israeli police killed two young Palestinian brothers and their parents in the occupied West Bank late Saturday, shooting all four in the head and face as they returned from a Ramadan shopping trip.
Family Killed During Ramadan
The victims were identified as Mohammed, five, Othman, seven (who was blind and had special needs), their mother Waad Bani Odeh, 35, and their father Ali Bani Odeh, 37. They were driving through their hometown of Tamoun when Israeli forces opened fire.
This incident occurred hours after Israeli settlers shot and killed Amir Moatasem Odeh, 28, in Qusra, south of Nablus, and also stabbed his father, Moatasem Awda, who remains hospitalized in serious condition.
Escalating Violence
The killings of the Bani Odeh family bring the total number of Palestinians killed in the occupied West Bank to eleven in just over two weeks. This period has seen a surge in Israeli violence against Palestinian civilians, including six civilians shot dead by settlers during incursions into Palestinian land, and one death resulting from military-grade teargas.
Khaled, 11, the oldest surviving brother, recounted hearing his mother crying and his father praying before the shooting. After the gunfire ceased, Israeli border police reportedly dragged him from the wreckage, taunted him about his family’s murder, and physically assaulted him. According to Khaled, one of the officers said, “we killed dogs.”
Israeli police stated the family was killed during a joint operation with the Israeli military, claiming forces opened fire after the vehicle “accelerated” and was perceived as an immediate threat. When asked about the threat posed by the family, or whether the shooting violated rules of engagement, police and military officials declined to comment.
The police and military were reportedly in the area to “arrest wanted suspects believed to be involved in terrorist activity.” The circumstances of the incident are under review.
Frequently Asked Questions
What were the victims doing when they were killed?
Mohammed, five, Othman, seven, their mother Waad Bani Odeh, 35, and father Ali Bani Odeh, 37, were driving through their hometown of Tamoun after shopping in Nablus for clothes for the upcoming Eid festival.
What did Israeli authorities say about the shooting?
A spokesperson for the police said the Bani Odeh family had been killed during a joint operation with the Israeli military, claiming forces opened fire when the vehicle “perceived an immediate threat” after it accelerated. They declined to comment on the nature of the threat.
What happened to the surviving brother?
Khaled, 11, the oldest brother, survived the shooting. He was reportedly dragged from the wreckage by Israeli border police, taunted, and physically assaulted.
What impact will this event have on the already fragile peace process in the region?
