The Israeli military confessed on Wednesday to the accidental shooting and killing of a Palestinian toddler, Mohammed al-Tamimi, in the occupied West Bank earlier this month – an unusually open admission of an error. According to an AP News report, the military announced that they are considering reprimanding one of the officers involved, though the decision to proceed with a criminal investigation remains pending.
Rights Groups and Impunity Claims
Rights organizations argue that the Israeli military has been lax in its investigations and punishment for the killing of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, leading to a cycle of impunity.
A Father’s Grief and Disbelief
The death of two-year-old Mohammed near his village of Nebi Saleh sparked widespread grief and outrage. His father, 44-year-old Haitham al-Tamimi, disregarded Israel’s decision to examine the killing, branding it a “cover-up.” He expressed his disappointment and grief, saying, “This is all they have to say when my son is killed in cold blood, when his life is cut off before I could discover what kind of person he’d become.”
Details of the Incident: A Fatal Confusion
The Israeli military detailed the circumstances of the incident, stating that there was significant confusion following a suspected Palestinian shooting attack near a Jewish settlement. As detailed by the Haaretz report, a lookout soldier heard gunfire but was unsure of its source. At the sight of a “suspicious” car, a commanding officer fired several times into the air, against army orders, triggering a series of tragic events that led to the young boy’s death.
The Family’s Plight
In the said car were the toddler Mohammed and his father, Haitham al-Tamimi. Al-Tamimi, who works as a chef in Ramallah, was preparing to drive his son to visit an uncle when the gunfire started. He was also hit and treated for moderate shoulder wounds at a Palestinian hospital. Tragically, Mohammed succumbed to his wounds at an Israeli hospital four days later.
Official Responses and Investigations
Major General Yehuda Fox, the commander overseeing the West Bank region, expressed sorrow over the incident, stating, “We will continue to learn and improve.” Previous investigations by the Israeli military into high-profile deaths, including those of prominent Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh and Palestinian-American Omar Assad, have not led to criminal prosecutions. The military maintains that it conducts thorough investigations into all allegations of misconduct
