A Palestinian family in the occupied West Bank continues to wait for answers and for the return of their teenage son’s body months after he was shot during an Israeli military operation in the al-Far’a refugee camp, north of Nablus. The victim, 14-year-old Jad Jadallah, was wounded during a raid in November last year, an area where Israeli forces frequently conduct operations targeting what they describe as armed militant groups. However, video footage and witness testimonies surrounding the incident have raised serious questions about the circumstances of the shooting.
According to CCTV footage reviewed in media investigations, the incident began when three boys approached a corner of an alley after hearing that Israeli military vehicles were leaving the camp. Unbeknownst to them, several soldiers remained positioned nearby, concealed behind a wall. As the boys noticed the troops and attempted to flee, one soldier reportedly stepped forward and fired at Jad Jadallah from close range. The footage shows the teenager turning and attempting to run before multiple shots were fired from behind, causing him to collapse after only a few steps.
Subsequent footage shows the wounded boy lying in the alley, attempting to draw attention by waving his arms and throwing his hat toward nearby soldiers. Witness accounts and reconstructed timelines indicate that he remained injured at the scene for an extended period, estimated at around 45 minutes. Paramedics stated that ambulances arrived within minutes but were prevented from reaching him by Israeli troops. Emergency responders said they were held at gunpoint roughly 100 yards away while they watched the injured teenager bleed without being allowed to provide assistance.
A second ambulance approaching from another direction was also reportedly blocked. According to witnesses, Israeli soldiers eventually moved Jad Jadallah into a military vehicle, but by that time he had died. The Israeli military stated that soldiers conducted security checks to ensure the boy was not carrying explosives and claimed that initial medical assistance had been provided.
Israeli authorities have said that the teenager had thrown a rock at soldiers, an action that under military rules of engagement can justify the use of lethal force. However, video evidence cited in reports appears to show a soldier placing an object near the boy after the shooting and photographing it, raising questions among observers about whether he was being portrayed as a threat after the incident occurred.
Jad Jadallah lived in al-Far’a refugee camp, a densely populated community of around 10,000 residents that frequently experiences military raids. Human rights organisations and United Nations data indicate that dozens of Palestinian minors have been killed by Israeli forces in the West Bank over the past year, with hundreds killed since the escalation of violence following the October 2023 Hamas attacks. Months after the incident, the family says the teenager’s body has still not been returned, leaving them without closure as investigations and conflicting narratives surrounding the shooting continue.
