DaysofPal-The last words of nine-year-old Mohammed Bahjat Al-Hallaq to his mother were simple and innocent: “I’ll be back soon, Mama.”
He left his home in the small village of Al-Reihiya, south of Hebron, to play football with his friends, unaware that an Israeli soldier’s bullet would end his short life and leave his school seat forever empty.
It was Thursday evening when an Israeli military vehicle stormed the village. Witnesses say a soldier stepped out, aimed, and fired a single bullet that struck Mohammed in the side.
He fell instantly, his small body collapsing on the dusty ground near the girls’ school of Al-Reihiya.
A Deliberate Killing
Mohammed’s uncle, who witnessed the incident, stated that the shot was intentional and fired from a distance of just 150 meters.
“The soldier aimed directly at the child,” he said, describing it as “an execution in cold blood.” Video recordings later confirmed the account, showing the soldier disembarking, taking aim, and firing at the unarmed boy.
But the tragedy didn’t end there.
Israeli forces delayed the ambulance for more than thirty minutes, leaving Mohammed to bleed heavily. By the time he reached Yatta Governmental Hospital, only ten minutes away, he was already lifeless.
A Family in Shock
At home, Mohammed’s mother still cannot comprehend that her son, a fourth-grade student known for his sharp mind and bright smile, is gone.
His father sits silently beside his two daughters and older son, all still in shock from the loss. At Al-Reihiya Primary School, Mohammed’s classmates placed his picture on his empty chair, a painful reminder of innocence stolen too soon.
“A Crime Beyond Investigation”
The Israeli forces announced an “investigation” into Mohammed’s death, but his family rejects it outright.
“We don’t need an investigation to know what happened,” his uncle said bitterly, adding that “A soldier killed a child who posed no threat.”
The next day, Israeli forces raided the village again, interrogating residents, reviewing surveillance cameras, and even removing Palestinian flags and Mohammed’s pictures from the mourning tent.
Mohammed’s close friend, Ibrahim, recalls the moment of horror. “We were playing football when we heard that the soldiers were nearby. We tried to hide,” he said.
“Then one of them came out of the vehicle, fired four stun grenades, and then a bullet hit Mohammed.” He added.
Killing of Children: A Pattern, not a Mistake
According to Ayed Abu Qteish, director at Defense for Children International, Palestine, Mohammed’s killing reflects a systemic Israeli policy, not isolated acts.
“The targeting of children is part of an intimidation strategy,” Abu Qteish said.
“Israeli soldiers shoot to kill, even when there are non-lethal options.” He added.
He added that the absence of accountability has emboldened soldiers.
“For ten years, not a single Israeli soldier has been convicted for killing Palestinian children, except once, in 2015, when the sentence was reduced to just nine months.”
Since October 2023, Israeli forces have killed over 217 children in the West Bank, including 42 this year alone, and detained more than 360 minors, half of them held under administrative detention without charge.
A Symbol of a Larger Pain
Mohammed Al-Hallaq’s story is one among hundreds, yet it carries the same devastating truth: in occupied Palestine, even a child kicking a football can become a target.
His empty classroom seat in Al-Reihiya is more than a symbol of loss; it is a testament to a generation growing up under the shadow of violence, and a haunting question for the world’s conscience
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