Babies killed after Israeli army prevents fire-brigades from entering Hebron

Two Palestinian infants were killed in a fire after the Israeli military prevented fire brigades from reaching them on time in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron.

The two children, a toddler believed to be 18 months old and his younger sister burned to death after a fire that broke out in their homes.

The Mayor of Hebron said the Israeli military is responsible for the death of the infants.

Hebron’s fire chief said a call was received at 10:35 on Thursday night of a fire breaking out in a house in the old town of the occupied city.

Ayman Nasser Eddin said two fire trucks were immediately dispatched to the scene but were kept from passing through two different army checkpoints.

After the the fire trucks were finally allowed through the checkpoints 20 minutes later the 18-month old boy was already dead and his younger sister was unable to be saved.

The fire was however contained and prevented from spreading to the rest of the house, said Nasser Eddin.

The names of the children have not yet been released.

Settlers from Hebron are known to be especially prone to violence, yet act with almost total impunity while under the protection of Israeli forces.

Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967. More than 600,000 Israeli Jews live in settlements in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.

All Israeli settlements across the occupied West Bank are classed as illegal under international law, particularly article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which asserts that "the occupying power shall not deport or transfer parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies".

Israeli forces and settlers routinely attack Palestinians in the occupied territories, demolishing their homes, poisoning their livestock and vandalising their properties.

Follow us on Twitter: @The_NewArab