Israeli soldiers shot and killed a West Bank teen they say ‘hurled a block.’ Video shows them shooting him point blank

According to Rokna, citing CNN, in its initial statement, the military did not describe the individual as a suspect, stating instead that the person “hurled a block toward the soldiers.” The Palestinian Ministry of Health identified the victim as 16-year-old Rayan Muhammad Abdul Qader Abu Mualla, citing the Palestinian General Authority of Civil Affairs (PGACA). The authority said Israel continues to hold his body following his killing in the Al-Sab’aneh neighborhood of Qabatiya.

A 26-second security camera video circulating on social media and geolocated by CNN to Al-Sab’aneh appears to capture the moment Israeli troops shot Abu Mualla. The footage shows a person walking through an alley toward two soldiers wearing helmets and partially concealed behind a corner. As the individual reaches the corner, one of the soldiers lifts his rifle and fires at close range, causing the person to fall backward.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in its first statement that its soldiers had been attacked by a “terrorist.” The video shows the 18 seconds leading up to the shooting, during which no object can be seen being thrown from the alley where the Palestinian teenager emerged. His left hand is not visible in the footage. It remains unclear who recorded the video, who initially shared it, or what occurred before the recording began.

On Saturday, Israeli news outlet Ynet published what it described as a photograph of Abu Mualla’s left hand holding a piece of concrete, reportedly taken after his death. CNN said it could not confirm whether the image shows the same individual seen in the security footage.

The Palestinian Red Crescent stated that Israeli forces prevented its emergency crews from reaching the scene. Videos geolocated by CNN show an ambulance with its emergency lights activated stopped roughly 650 feet away from where the shooting occurred.

Responding to questions about the footage and claims that medics were blocked, the IDF said: “Yesterday (Saturday), a Palestinian suspected of hurling a block at IDF soldiers was shot. The incident is under review.”

Later on Saturday, Abu Mualla’s school announced on Facebook that it would be closed on Sunday in his memory and that examinations would be postponed by one week.

In a separate incident the same day, the Ministry of Health reported that the IDF shot and killed a 22-year-old Palestinian man, Ahmed Saed Ziyoud, in Silat al-Harathiya, a town north of Jenin in the West Bank. The IDF said on Telegram that its forces shot an individual who had “hurled an explosive” at soldiers.

On Sunday, the armed wing of the Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine said Ziyoud was a fighter with the Al-Quds Brigades and was killed by a sniper’s bullet during an Israeli military raid on the town.