According to Palestinian authorities, Israeli forces shot and martyred 14-year-old Palestinian-American citizen Omar Mohammed Rabi in the town of Turmus Ayya in the West Bank.
The mayor of Turmus Ayya, Adeb Lafi, told Reuters that Omar Rabi was at the town’s entrance with two companions when an Israeli settler opened fire on them. Later, Israeli forces detained Omar and declared him dead.
The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned the incident, calling it an extrajudicial killing, and stated that it is the result of Israel’s ongoing policy of impunity.
On the other hand, the Israeli military claimed that during a counter-terrorism operation in Turmus Ayya, their soldiers identified “three terrorists” who were throwing stones on the road, endangering civilians. According to the military, “the soldiers fired on the terrorists, killing one and injuring two.”
The incident has raised global concerns, particularly because Omar Rabi held American citizenship and was underage.
