In 2022, 53 children were killed by Israeli forces in the West Bank. In the first six months of 2023, over 40 Palestinian children have been shot and killed by Israeli forces.
Under international law, intentional lethal force is only justified in circumstances where a direct threat to life or serious injury is present. Investigations and evidence collected by Defence for Children International Palestine regularly suggest that the Israeli military use lethal force against Palestinian children in circumstances that may amount to extrajudicial or wilful killings.
To highlight this unlawful, intentional and unacceptable targeting of young people, Sadaka, The Ireland Palestine Alliance will be sending a series of postcards to each member of the Dáil and Seanad. Each postcard will feature the image of a child who was murdered by Israeli forces and is produced with the cooperation of their grieving families. The cards are designed to humanise the media statistics and news reports that fail to reflect the awful loss of a young person’s life and will detail the young person’s life and the dreadful circumstances of their killing.
660 Postcards Sent to TDs and Senators
Mohammad Farid Mohammad Haj Ahmad, R.I.P
The first postcard commemorates the loss of Mohammad Ahmad, a 16-year-old Palestinian boy shot by an Israeli soldier, from a moving jeep as the Israeli army were leaving the West Bank city of Nablus following a military raid on February 22nd 2023. Video footage shows the Israeli army firing repeatedly into a group of civilians sheltering between a mosque and a clinic.
Mohammad was the 13th Palestinian child killed by Israeli forces in 2023, according to DCIP. Mohammad was a bright, popular and friendly boy who is sadly missed by his family and school friends.
Omar Awadin, R.I.P
14-yr old Omar Awadin was riding his bicycle in front of his parents’ shop in Jenin, Occupied Palestine, at 3pm on the 16th March 2023 when undercover Israeli forces raided the city and shot him in the shoulder. He was pronounced dead at Jenin hospital later that afternoon.
He is one of 20 Palestinian children to be murdered by Israeli live fire this year. Such killings by Israeli forces will continue with impunity unless the international community takes action. Isn’t it time to speak up for Palestinian children like Omar?
Mayar Ezzeddin, Ali Ezzeddin, Hajar As- Bahtini, Layan Mdoukh, Yazen Elian, Eman Addas, Tamin Dawood, R.I.P
Over five days in May 2023 Israel bombarded Gaza killing 7 children.
Mayar Ezzeddin (11), Ali Ezzeddin (8) and Hajar As- Bahtini (5), died in missile strikes which targeted their homes. Layan Mdoukh (10), Yazen Elian (16) and Eman Addas (17) were killed by Israeli airstrikes on the besieged strip.
When the explosions occurred Tamin Dawood (5), who had a heart condition, suffered a severe panic attack. “He died at dawn on Wednesday because his heart could not bear the fear”, his mother said.