Israeli Gunfire Disables Teenagers in West Bank Incident

Al Jazeera Visits Refugee Camp in West Bank, Reports on Humanitarian Crisis

A refugee camp in the occupied West Bank has become a site of frequent violence and human rights abuses. The Askar refugee camp, home to 24,000 people, has seen numerous young individuals killed or maimed by Israeli soldiers since October 7, 2023.

According to Amjad Refaee, director of the Askar Social Development Centre, memories of those killed haunt one of the few green spaces in the camp where children can play. The military has killed three teenagers and maimed many more since the escalation of violence in the region.

Soldiers have shifted their tactics, targeting individuals with live ammunition rather than rubber bullets or aiming below the waist. Refaee described the situation as “terrifying,” stating that people are treated like animals by the soldiers.

The camp’s narrow streets have become a point of entry for Israeli soldiers, who often use the nearby Elon Moreh settlement to infiltrate the area. In January, 18-year-old Amir Othman was shot in the leg while performing with his friend Mohammed Abu Haneen, who was killed by the army just over a year earlier.

Amir underwent four operations to help him walk again but will never regain full mobility due to the severity of his injuries. He expressed his desire to continue dancing and touring, but these activities are now impossible for him.

At least 13 Palestinians have been killed in Askar since October 7, according to Palestinian monitoring groups. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has reported that many residents live in poverty and suffer cramped living conditions due to the camp’s high population density.

Defense for Children International – Palestine reports that at least 157 children have been killed by soldiers or Israeli settlers in the West Bank and occupied East Jerusalem since 2024. The Israeli military denies targeting children, citing security reasons and efforts to clamp down on Palestinian fighters.

Source: Al Jazeera