Sat Feb 22 07:32:12 UTC 2025: ## Israeli Forces Kill Two Palestinian Children in West Bank

**RAMALLAH, West Bank –** Two Palestinian children were fatally shot by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank on Friday, sparking international outrage and condemnation. Ayman Nasser al-Haymouny, 12, was killed in Hebron, and 13-year-old Rimas al-Amouri died in Jenin. Both children were shot in the back, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health and the Defense for Children International – Palestine (DCIP).

DCIP reported that al-Haymouny was shot while visiting relatives, while al-Amouri was struck while standing in her family’s courtyard. Witnesses stated that Israeli soldiers fired from armored vehicles, with at least five bullets hitting the courtyard where al-Amouri stood. Ayed Abu Eqtaish of DCIP condemned the killings as a deliberate act of lethal force against unarmed children.

These killings occurred amidst a wider escalation of Israeli military operations across the West Bank, which have included widespread raids in cities such as Nablus, Jenin, and Tulkarem over the past several weeks. These operations, which began shortly after a Gaza ceasefire agreement, have resulted in the deaths of over 50 Palestinians since January 21, including the two children. The UN’s humanitarian office (OCHA) has also documented significant damage to Palestinian infrastructure and numerous incidents of settler violence.

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) strongly condemned the killings, labeling them war crimes and crimes against humanity, and called for international action. Governor Abdullah Kmeil of Tulkarem went further, accusing Israel of “genocidal intent” in its intensified military operations. The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is also facing criticism for the reported conversion of a Palestinian home into a military base following the forceful expulsion of its family. The escalating violence continues to raise serious concerns about the safety and well-being of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.

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