How children in West Bank are being killed by Israel ‘without accountability’

What Happened

On 16 October 2024, Israeli forces shot and killed nine-year-old Mohammad al-Halaq in ar-Rihiya, south of Hebron, as he played football in a schoolyard. Witnesses and a video showed a soldier aiming at a hilltop where children had fled after two Jeeps arrived; shots struck Muhammad in the pelvis. He died in hospital. His death is among 235 Palestinian children and teenagers killed by Israeli forces in the West Bank since 7 October 2023, according to a B'Tselem report published on Monday. The report, 'Unshielded Childhood', documents 54 children and teenagers killed by Israeli forces in 2025 alone, finding no evidence they posed a threat or belonged to militant groups. In February 2024, 13-year-old Rimas Amuri was shot outside her home in Jenin refugee camp when soldiers, from 40 metres away, claimed she failed to respond to a suspect-arrest procedure; witnesses heard no warnings. B'Tselem's executive director Yuli Novak described a 'licence to kill', citing Maj Gen Avi Bluth's remark that forces are 'killing like we haven't killed since 1967' and his claim that 96% of those killed were involved in terrorism—a figure B'Tselem calls a 'blatant lie'. An IDF spokesperson said forces do not intentionally target civilians and investigate allegations. A UN independent commission of inquiry last week found Israeli authorities have deliberately targeted Palestinian children, constituting genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in Gaza and war crimes in the West Bank.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The reported surge in killings of Palestinian children in the West Bank amid loosened military rules of engagement since October 2023 underscores a deepening humanitarian and legal crisis. With documented impunity—Yesh Din notes no indictments for such killings—the pattern fuels international legal scrutiny, including the UN commission's findings of genocide and war crimes, and could intensify international pressure, impact Israel's diplomatic standing, and affect ongoing ICJ/ICC proceedings.

Watch For

Monitor whether the IDF launches investigations into the specific cases cited or the broader pattern; any legal actions by Israeli or international bodies; further B'Tselem or UN reporting; potential diplomatic reactions from mediating states (Egypt, Qatar, US) or the EU; and any linkage to ceasefire negotiations or West Bank escalation.