Palestinian boy killed by Israeli police while playing with fireworks in occupied West Bank

Israeli police have killed a 12-year-old boy who was lighting a firework in the Shuafat Refugee Camp in occupied East Jerusalem on Tuesday.

The boy, named Rami Hamdan Al-Halhouli, was killed by a bullet fired by an Israeli officer after lighting a firework in the evening.

According to Israeli police, a single shot was fired by Israeli border police towards a "suspect who endangered" them during a riot in the camp.

However, Rami's father told the BBC that he was playing with his brothers and friends after breaking his Ramadan fast.

His mother told the BBC that she didn't think anything bad happened because there were no clashes in the area, adding that she saw that the bullet struck Rami through the heart.

Far-right Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir hailed the killing of the child by police, saying: "This is exactly how you should act against terrorists – with determination and precision."

Following the killing the Palestinian Ministry for Foreign Affairs condemned what it described as "field executions" by Israeli forces operating in the West Bank.

"The series of field executions committed by the Israeli occupation army in the West Bank is clear evidence that the ruling Israeli right is the one seeking to blow up the situation during the month of Ramadan, and enter it into a never-ending cycle of violence."

According to Defense for Children International Palestine, 25 children have been killed across the occupied West Bank as a result of Israeli forces or settlers since the start of the year. In 2023, at least 126 Palestinian children were killed by Israeli fire.

In addition to children, a total of 432 people have been killed since 7 October in the West Bank, according to Palestinian health ministry.