Israeli police have opened an investigation after CCTV footage showed a border police officer throwing a stun grenade into a car carrying young Palestinians during a raid on the Qalandiya refugee camp in the occupied West Bank. The footage, released by the Israeli rights group B'Tselem, shows the officer approaching the vehicle and shouting at its occupants before grabbing a stun grenade from his belt and tossing it through the open door. He then pushes the door shut as the driver attempts to exit, shouting, 'Shut your mouth. Who are you talking to like that?'
Grenade Detonates Inside Vehicle
Moments later, the grenade detonates, filling the area with smoke. The two passengers scramble out through the opposite side of the car, and the officer appears to fire his rifle as they duck for cover. B'Tselem confirmed that all occupants survived the incident. Police stated that the officer acted 'not in accordance with procedure' and that the Justice Ministry's Department for the Investigation of Police Officers is handling the case. The officer has been suspended pending the investigation.
Stun Grenade Dangers
Stun grenades are designed to disorient with an intense flash and deafening blast but can inflict serious injuries, especially when detonated at close range. Since 2020, Israeli soldiers and settlers have killed at least 1,175 Palestinian civilians in the occupied West Bank, with at least a quarter being children, according to UN data. No one has been charged in connection with any of these deaths.
Teenager Killed in Same Raid
During the same raid on Qalandiya, Israeli forces shot and killed a 16-year-old boy, Walid Abu Sneineh, and wounded three other Palestinians, the Palestinian Health Ministry reported. Two Palestinian children were also injured after being shot in the lower limbs by Israeli forces during the incident. The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Infant Death After Checkpoint Delay
Late on Sunday, a four-month-old Palestinian baby, Ahmad Marouf Zaid, died after Israeli forces blocked his family from crossing a checkpoint to reach a waiting ambulance, according to his family. They drove the severely ill baby on unpaved mountain roads to Ramallah themselves, delaying treatment by over an hour. An IDF spokesperson denied blocking the family from seeking medical aid.
Another Teen Killed in Ramallah
Last week, during another Israeli military raid in Ramallah, forces killed a 15-year-old boy, Amir Ahmad Jaber. Yuli Novak, executive director of B'Tselem, stated: 'The widespread and unprecedented killing of Palestinian children and teenagers in the West Bank is the result of a broader Israeli policy that allows the killing of Palestinians and violent abuse against them without any accountability.'
