Haseen Mahmod Alyan, 17, was killed by Israeli soldiers during clashes in Beitunia on Friday. Eye witnesses tell IMEMC that the anti-wall demonstration was far from uncontrolled and that there was no reason for the army to use live ammunition. On Saturday Alyan was buried in Budrus were he was born and raised.
Only one live bullet was fired at Alyan. It entered his forehead and came out through the back of his scull together with brains and blood. His life ended, like the main part of the demonstration, immediately.
Why did the soldier choose to kill Alyan? Because he was throwing stones? Like always during demonstrations the “Shibabs†(teenagers) have stones, the soldiers: tear gas and rubber coated metal bullets, known as rubberbullets.
But according to eyewitnesses that IMEMC spoke to. The soldiers had the situation under control. The stone-throwers were at a safe distance. The strong teargas made sure that no dangerous child could come close to the soldiers and hurl a stone.
Another kind of truth was published in Haaretz the day after the killing. The article said that Alyan was throwing a home made firebomb at the soldiers. In that case he must have posed a big threat. So, in pure self defence, one might think, a soldier shot him, according to Haaretz, with a “rubber bullet†in the head to stop Alyan from torching the combatants.
True? Well, let put it like this. According to everyone that IMEMC has spoken to, none have seen a single firebomb being either exploded, thrown or even held by any of the demonstrators.
Also. Footage taken by a Swedish documentary filmmaker shows clearly that the bullet has not only penetrated Alyans forehead, but also exited through the back of his head tearing up a big hole through which parts of his brain fell out. That is one mean “rubberbulletâ€Â. Kinda´ makes you think of a live round.
Haaretz have contacted the filmmaker for a second opinion on exactly what happened that day during the demonstration.
That Alyan was shot dead while throwing stones is a phenomenon that is not new, not rare but a well exercised and common way of the Israeli Army to deal with “Shibabsâ€Â.
And the soldiers get a way with it. The official explanation is always: He was throwing firebombs, shooting with a Kalachnikow or in one way or another being a threat to the soldiers. In the end: the soldiers are the victims not the dead kids.
When a civilian gets shot during a demonstration the military never bothers to investigate what really happened. Of course sometimes the person who gets killed by the Army have been firebombing or shooting against soldiers. But firebombs or no firebombs the explanation is always that the dead guy was a threat to the soldiers.
One example when the army had to confess that one soldier actually committed a murder (or so far: manslaughter) was when Thomas Hurdall, an English photographer and ISM-activist (International Solidarity Movement), was shot, on the 11th of April 2003, in the head in Gaza by an Israeli sniper while trying to help Palestinian children in to safety.
After demands from the English government and Hurndall family. The IDF started an investigation that resulted in two arrests: the soldier who shot Thomas Hurdall and another soldier who helped the sniper with a cover up story, saying that the killer was shooting at an armed man dressed in camouflage clothes.
At the moment the person who fired his rifle at Thomas Hurdall is accused for manslaughter, but the Hurdall family wants him to face a prison sentence for murder.
Thomas Hurdalls case was brought to international –and media attention because of a strong westerner government who put pressure upon the IDF and the Israeli government to start an investigation.
Hassen Mahmod Alyans death will not be brought to court. The Israeli Army will not be questioned by any foreign governments about what happened on the 16th of April. The soldier who killed Alyan can kill again again and again. Who can stop him?
