Israeli forces shot and killed two Palestinian children in the occupied West Bank on February 21, amid intensified military raids. Twelve-year-old Ayman Nassar Taysir Al-Hemouni was killed in Hebron, while 13-year-old Rimas Omar Mohammad Ammouri was fatally shot in Jenin. Both children were struck in the back by Israeli soldiers positioned inside heavily armored military vehicles. Their deaths add to the growing toll of Palestinian children killed in Israeli operations, raising further concerns over impunity and systemic violence.
Al-Hemouni was shot around 6:30 p.m. while visiting a relative’s home in the Al-Kasara area of Hebron. Israeli forces had been operating in the area for weeks, conducting regular military incursions. He was approximately 200 meters (656 feet) away from the armored Israeli vehicle when he was shot. Medical personnel at Mohammad Ali Al-Muhtaseb Hospital confirmed that a bullet entered his right lung and lodged in his left lung. He was pronounced dead at 7:00 p.m.
In Jenin, Ammouri was standing in her family’s courtyard when an Israeli soldier stationed 50 meters (164 feet) away fired at least five bullets into the area. One bullet struck her in the back and exited through her abdomen. Her family attempted to stop the bleeding while waiting 20 minutes for an ambulance, delayed by Israeli movement restrictions. She was declared dead at Jenin Governmental Hospital at 4:30 p.m. “Both Ayman and Rimas were targeted suddenly and without warning in the back with lethal force by Israeli soldiers safely positioned inside armored vehicles,” said Ayed Abu Eqtaish, accountability program director at Defense for Children International – Palestine (DCIP).
Pattern of Targeting Children
Ammouri is the third Palestinian child shot inside her home since late January. On February 11, eight-year-old Jannat Faisal Sabri Mutawar was shot in the head inside her home near Hebron and now faces permanent vision loss. On January 25, two-year-old Laila Mohammad Ayman Khatib was shot in the back of the head while having dinner with her family south of Jenin. These killings highlight a disturbing trend of Palestinian children being targeted in spaces where they should be safest.
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Israeli forces have killed 16 Palestinian children in the occupied West Bank in 2025 alone, according to DCIP. Eight were killed in drone strikes, seven were shot with live ammunition, and one died from an unspecified injury. The previous year saw even higher casualties, with Israeli forces and settlers killing at least 93 Palestinian children. Of these, 71 were shot with live ammunition, 17 died in drone strikes, three were killed in Israeli warplane airstrikes, one was killed by an Israeli-fired ground shell, and one died from unexploded ordnance left by Israeli forces.
The growing death toll of Palestinian children has sparked outrage among human rights organizations. “Israeli forces have nothing but contempt for Palestinian children’s lives, and systemic impunity means they will face no consequences,” said Abu Eqtaish. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) also condemned the killings, calling them war crimes and crimes against humanity, and urging the international community to take action.
Military Raids and Widespread Destruction
The killings occurred amid intensified Israeli military operations across the West Bank. In recent weeks, large-scale raids have been carried out in Nablus, Tulkarem, Jenin, and other areas. Overnight on February 21, Israeli forces conducted operations in the Kafr Aqab neighborhood near East Jerusalem, as well as in Am’ari refugee camp, Jericho, Bethlehem, and the Deir Ammar refugee camp west of Ramallah. Palestinian sources reported several arrests, including individuals forcibly removed from their vehicles and homes.
Since January 21, the Israeli offensive in the northern West Bank has killed more than 50 Palestinians. The military operation has also caused severe damage to Palestinian water and sanitation infrastructure, affecting daily life in already vulnerable communities. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has reported 34 incidents of Israeli settler violence against Palestinians in the latest period. However, since OCHA’s last report, additional deaths—including the killings of Al-Hemouni and Ammouri—have been recorded.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health and the Wafa news agency confirmed the deaths of Al-Hemouni and Ammouri, adding to the grim statistics of ongoing violence. Calls for accountability continue to grow, but with no consequences for Israeli forces so far, Palestinian families are left mourning the loss of their children while bracing for further attacks.