EU calls for probe into killing of 13-year-old Palestinian by Israeli forces

Fourteen-year-old Ali Abu Aliya was shot in the stomach during a protest against Israeli land theft in the al-Mughayyir village near Ramallah. He died of his wounds hours later, according to the Palestinian health ministry.

"This shocking incident must be swiftly and fully investigated by the Israeli authorities in order to bring the perpetrators to justice," the EU delegation responsible for Palestinian affairs said.

"Children enjoy special protection under international law," said the delegation in a tweet.

"How many more Palestinian children will be subject to the excessive use of lethal force by the Israeli security forces?" it said, adding that the "shocking incident must be swiftly and fully investigated by the Israeli authorities in order to bring the perpetrators to justice".

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh described the incident as "a new crime added to the occupation's long record". 

In a statement, Hamas said Abu Aliya's death "confirms the criminal truth about the occupation army", saying Israel must be prosecuted.

"We affirm the need to return to the national consensus on the option of resisting the occupation, one that is capable of responding to the crimes of the occupation and stopping the escalating attack of settlers," the statement said.

Hanan Ashrawi, a member of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) Executive Committee, said: "The targeting of children and the use of live ammunition against them is a blatant and direct violation of international laws and conventions, including the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which Israel ratified in 1991."

The Palestinian Authority presidency called on "the international community to work to provide protection for our people, end the occupation and establish an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital".

The mayor of al-Mughayir told Palestinian state news that Abu Aliya was shot by an Israeli soldier during clashes at the eastern entrance of the village.

He added that four other young people were wounded by rubber bullet fire and treated at the scene.

Palestinians were protesting against a new settlement outpost in the area.

Since occupying the West Bank in 1967, more than 450,000 Israelis live in illegal settlements across the Palestinian territory, where Israeli authorities continue to build new settlements despite international outcry.

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