Hebron, West Bank
A 10-year-old P@lestinian boy, identified as Muhammad al-Hallaq, was fatally shot during an !sraeli military operation in the village of al-Rihiya, south of Hebron, according to local media and eyewitnesses.
Residents told reporters that Muhammad was playing football with his friends near a local school when !sraeli soldiers entered the area. The children reportedly ran back towards the village in fear before gunfire erupted.
“There was no confrontation, no provocation — they were just scared and ran,” said the parent of another child who witnessed the incident.
According to medical officials, Muhammad sustained a gunshot wound to the pelvis and was rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead upon arrival.
Footage shared on social media showed villagers gathering around an ambulance as the boy’s body was brought back home. His grieving parents were seen kissing his face before the funeral prayers.
In a statement, Muhammad’s mother said he was a bright and cheerful student who loved birds and often said he wanted to become a heart doctor.
“He was showing me his new backpack that morning,” she recalled tearfully. “He always came home with excellent grades.”
The !sraeli Defense Forces (!DF) confirmed that troops opened fire after facing “rock-hurling” during a patrol in the area. The army stated that “hits were identified,” and that no soldiers were injured.
However, a preliminary internal investigation, reported by Kan News, suggested that the shooting deviated from standard engagement rules and that “improper use of weaponry” occurred during the incident.
This marks the second such incident involving the same unit, according to the report.
Separately, the !DF also confirmed that troops killed a 20-year-old man during a raid in Qabatiya, near Jenin, claiming he had thrown an explosive device at the soldiers.
Data from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) shows that around 200 P@lestinians — including nearly 40 children — have been killed in the occupied West Bank since the start of 2025.
