Israeli police have killed a Palestinian family of four in the occupied West Bank, shooting two young brothers and their parents in the head and face as they returned from a Ramadan shopping trip. The incident occurred late on Saturday in the town of Tamoun, marking a grim escalation of violence in the region.
Details of the Fatal Shooting
Mohammed, aged five, and his seven-year-old brother Othman, who was blind and had special needs, were killed alongside their mother Waad Bani Odeh, 35, and father Ali Bani Odeh, 37. The family was driving through their hometown when Israeli forces opened fire without warning, according to survivor accounts.
Survivor's Harrowing Account
Khaled, 11, the oldest sibling who survived the shooting, described hearing his mother crying and his father praying before they died. After the gunfire stopped, Israeli border police dragged him from the wreckage, taunted him about the murders, and physically attacked him. Khaled reported that one officer said, "we killed dogs," during the assault.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health confirmed all four victims were shot in the head and face, with Ali, who was driving, also sustaining chest and left hand wounds. The family had been in nearby Nablus purchasing clothes for the upcoming Eid festival, which marks the end of Ramadan.
Immediate Aftermath and Response
Israeli forces initially prevented ambulances from reaching the scene, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent. The military later towed the family vehicle away, as witnessed in video footage shared on social media platforms.
A police spokesperson stated the killings occurred during a joint operation with the Israeli military, claiming forces opened fire when they "perceived an immediate threat" after the vehicle accelerated. When questioned about what threat was posed by four young children and their unarmed parents, or whether the shooting violated Israeli rules of engagement, both police and military declined to comment.
Broader Context of Violence
This attack brings the number of Palestinians killed to eleven in recent weeks, amid a surge of Israeli violence against Palestinian civilians in the occupied West Bank. The escalation follows the launch of war on Iran by Israel and the United States at the end of February.
Over the preceding two weeks, Israeli settlers have shot six civilians dead during invasions of Palestinian olive groves, villages, and grazing land. One man died after inhaling military-grade teargas used by the Israeli army.
Community Outrage and Questions
Mansour Abu Islam, a neighbour and cousin of Ali Bani Odeh, expressed outrage: "What did this family do? They went to buy Eid necessities, and to put a smile on those children's faces. This is clear evidence that Palestinian lives have no value."
Abu Islam also noted the gunmen were an undercover unit not in uniform, driving a car with Palestinian license plates. The police and military stated they were in the area to "arrest wanted suspects believed to be involved in terrorist activity," adding that "the circumstances of the incident are under review by the relevant authorities."
The Israeli military maintains command responsibility for all forces operating in occupied Palestine. A military spokesperson confirmed border police killed the Bani Odeh family but declined further comment, referring all questions to the police.
