Israeli Army Kills Palestinian Boy with U.S. Citizenship for Throwing Stones

AUTHOR: M.J. GDNUS

Israeli forces killed a Palestinian boy with U.S. citizenship in the town of Turmus Ayya on the occupied West Bank, Palestinian officials said on Sunday.

The Israeli army referred to him as a "terrorist" and claimed he was shot because he endangered civilians by throwing stones, according to Reuters.

Turmus Ayya Mayor Adeeb Lafi earlier told Reuters that Omar Mohamed Rabea (14) was killed along with two other teenagers by an Israeli settler at the entrance to Turmus Ayya, and that the Israeli army declared him dead after detaining him.

All Israeli settlements and Jewish settlers living in them are considered illegal under international law.

The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the incident as an "extrajudicial killing" carried out by Israeli forces during a raid in the town, stating that it was the result of Israel's "continuing impunity."

"During counterterrorism activity in the Turmus Ayya area, IDF soldiers identified three terrorists who were throwing stones at the highway, thereby endangering civilians driving by. Soldiers opened fire at the terrorists who were endangering civilians, eliminating one terrorist and hitting two others," the army said in a statement.

Settler violence on the West Bank, including incursions into occupied areas and attacks on Bedouin villages and camps, has intensified since the genocide in Gaza began in October 2023.

European countries and the previous U.S. administration under President Joe Biden imposed sanctions on violent Israeli settlers, although these were lifted under President Donald Trump.

In recent months, the Israeli army also conducted what it called a "large-scale military operation" on the West Bank to root out "militants."