The Israeli army is to decide whether to instruct the military police to probe the army’s killing of a Palestinian child in Askar refugee camp, near the West Bank city of Nablus on Friday.
The fetal shooting took place after the Israeli soldiers and paratroopers invaded the camp in an attempt to arrest resistance fighters. Army claims that a paratrooper was lightly injured by shrapnel, and received treatments, two resistance fighters were killed.ÂÂ
Several hours later, soldiers clashed with Palestinian youth, who hurled stones and empty bottles at them, according to the army.
“A Soldier told his commander during the clash that he spotted an armed resident, one hundred meters awayâ€Â, army source said, “the commander gave green light to a sniper to open fire; two bullets were fire, an unarmed child was killedâ€Â.ÂÂ
Israeli military sources confirmed that there was no shooting in the area.
The child was identified as Odai Sa’id Tantawi, 13 years old.
Initial army investigation revealed that the shooting was a direct violation to the “rules of engagement†since the child was unarmed, and the sniper could see him clearly.
The investigation will be handed to Brigadier General Yair Golan, Israeli Army commander in the West Bank.
The child was killed, and the Civil Administration Office, which belongs to the Israeli army, “conveyed an apology†to the family.
Yariv Oppenheimer, director general of the Peace Now movement, asked the Israeli attorney general to order an external investigation.
Khaled Tanatawi, the father of the child, said that he intends to file charges against the army, in order to expose the military violations.
“I want the whole world to know that the Israeli army kills children, in cold blooded murdersâ€Â, the father said, “How can a child 150 meter away, harm soldiers sitting in an armored jeep?!â€Â.
