On Saturday a nine-year-old Palestinian boy was killed by Israeli security forces gunfire north of Al Bira. A week prior, IDF soldiers shot and killed 15-year-old Husam a-Disi from Qalandya Refugee Camp.
According to testimonies collected by B'Tselem, Husam a-Disi was hit by four live bullets, three of which entered his back. The boy was shot while throwing stones at IDF soldiers from a distance of about 100 meters.
Since the eruption of violence in the Occupied Territories on September 29, 2000, Israeli security forces have killed 88 Palestinian children. Some 4000 children have been injured. This, in addition to the 281 Palestinian children killed since 1987.
The policy Israel employs for dispersing demonstrations in the Occupied Territories is the reason why so many children are hurt both by live and "rubber" bullets:
Open Fire Regulations: B'Tselem has repeatedly warned against the phenomenon of "trigger happy" soldiers who shoot even when their lives are not in danger. Throwing stones at protected soldiers from a distance of 100 meters cannot be considered life threatening.
"Rubber" Bullets: B'Tselem renews its demand that Israeli security forces obtain non-lethal means of dispersing demonstrations, and thus put an end to the killing of children. "Rubber" Bullets.