Israeli occupation forces fatally shot a 15-year-old Palestinian boy during a violent raid on the town of Silwad, northeast of Ramallah, late Thursday night, in what residents described as a brutal assault on civilians.

According to local sources, dozens of Israeli soldiers stormed the town, opening fire with live ammunition, tear gas, and stun grenades as they clashed with residents who attempted to resist the incursion.

The victim, identified as Yamin Samed Hamid, was struck by live bullets fired by occupation troops. Witnesses said the boy was left bleeding on the ground for several minutes as Israeli forces prevented ambulances and medical crews from reaching him.

After eventually being allowed to access the area, paramedics transferred Hamid to the Palestine Medical Complex in Ramallah. Despite emergency efforts to revive him, he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

Residents said the late-night raid caused widespread panic among families, with soldiers indiscriminately firing at homes and unarmed civilians. Several cases of suffocation from tear gas were also reported.

The killing comes amid a sharp escalation of Israeli military operations across the occupied West Bank since the start of the Zionist regime’s ongoing war on Gaza in October 2023.

According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, more than 1,060 Palestinians have been killed and over 10,000 injured in the West Bank and East Jerusalem during the past year, as occupation forces intensify raids, arrests, and home demolitions.

Silwad, a town known for its history of resistance, has faced repeated military incursions in recent months. Residents say the Israeli army has deliberately targeted youth and community leaders in an effort to crush dissent and terrorize the population.

Human rights organizations have repeatedly condemned Israel’s pattern of targeting minors in its operations across the occupied territories.

According to Defence for Children International – Palestine (DCI-P), dozens of Palestinian children have been killed by Israeli forces in 2025 alone, most of them shot with live ammunition in circumstances where they posed no threat.

“Israeli forces are systematically using lethal force against children with impunity,” DCI-P said in a recent statement. “The killing of Palestinian minors has become a defining feature of the occupation’s violent control.”

Palestinian officials have condemned the killing of Yamin Hamid as a war crime and called on international organizations to hold Israel accountable for its ongoing violations.

“The murder of a 15-year-old child reflects the policy of collective punishment and deliberate targeting of civilians under occupation,” said a spokesperson for the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, urging the United Nations and the International Criminal Court (ICC) to intervene.

As the Israeli occupation continues its campaign of repression across the West Bank, families in Silwad and beyond are mourning yet another young life lost — a tragic reminder of the heavy toll borne by Palestinian children living under military rule. (ILKHA)