Assassination of 16-Year-Old Lujain Osama Musleh

Incident Details:

• On September 3, 2024, 16-year-old Lujain Osama Musleh was shot and killed by an Israeli sniper while looking out of the window of her home in Kafr Dan, near Jenin, West Bank.

• According to her father, Lujain was shot through the forehead as she opened a curtain in her home. She had no involvement in any violent activity.

• Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) said its crews transported a 16-year-old girl who was fatally shot by Israeli forces’ live bullets in the village of Kafr.

• Israeli forces prevented ambulance crews’ access to the site for over half an hour and left the girl to bleed to death.

• Another youth was also injured in the thigh by the Israeli forces’ live fire : Mohammad Abdullah Mohammad Kanaan, 14, was shot and killed by an Israeli sniper around 4:40 a.m in Tulkram entrance Camp.

Context of "Operation Summer Camp"

"Operation Summer Camp" is a large-scale military incursion launched by Israeli forces on August 28, 2024, involving hundreds of soldiers and armored vehicles. It targeted towns and refugee camps in the northern occupied West Bank, including Jenin and Tulkarem.The operation i s described as one of the most severe incursions since the Gaza war began a year ago. It has led to the deaths of over 30 Palestinians, including civilians, children, and elderly people. Governor Kamal Abu al-Rub described the operation as extremely oppressive, with 4,000-5,000 people displaced from their homes in Jenin and nearby refugee camps. The incursion has caused severe shortages of food and water, and aid deliveries have been delayed due to arbitrary controls imposed by Israeli forces. During the military operations, Israeli forces have taken control of Palestinian homes to use as military bases, often stationing snipers on rooftops. Bulldozers destroyed vital civil infrastructure, including water networks, leading to power outages in many neighborhoods around Jenin. Israeli forces also surrounded hospitals and obstructed ambulance movement, delaying critical medical assistance to those injured.

Events Leading to Lujain’s murder

On September 2, 2024, Israeli forces entered Kafr Dan, northwest of Jenin, prompting confrontations with Palestinian fighters. The soldiers surrounded a neighboring house in an attempt to apprehend a wanted Palestinian man. At approximately 2:10 p.m., Lujain, who was inside her home, 50 meters from the besieged house, was shot by an Israeli sniper. Israeli forces blocked an ambulance from accessing Lujain’s home for about 10 minutes. She was later pronounced dead at Jenin Governmental Hospital.

**Folowing Defense for Children International Palestine **

• Lujain is the third Palestinian girl killed by Israeli forces in the West Bank in 2024, according to DCIP (Defense for Children International Palestine).

• In total, 75 Palestinian children have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the occupied West Bank in 2024, including two U.S. citizens.

• Since the October 7, 2024 escalation in Gaza, 156 Palestinian children have been killed in West Bank. In 2023 alone, 121 Palestinian children were killed by Israeli forces and settlers, most by live ammunition. Other children were killed by drone strikes and missile attacks.

Lethal Force Against Civilians:

• Under international law, intentional lethal force is only justified when there is a direct threat to life. However, evidence collected by DCIP indicates that Israeli forces often use lethal force in ways that suggest extrajudicial or willful killings.

• Since the Gaza war began, more than 680 Palestinians, both civilians and fighters, have been killed in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Israeli Military Response:

The Israeli military claimed they were investigating the incident, alleging that they fired back at a suspect who had been observing them. This statement came amidst a broader military operation, but Lujain’s death raises concerns about the rules of engagement used by Israeli forces in occupied territories.

Criticism from international human rights organizations:

While the Israeli military claims to investigate these killings, the ongoing pattern of violence, especially against minors, has drawn significant criticism from international human rights organizations.

Collected sources :

https://www.democracynow.org/2024/9/5/headlines/israel_continues_deadly_west_bank_incursion_destroying_streets_homes_water_health_infrastructure https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/palestinian-girl-killed-west-bank-was-looking-out-window-her-father-says-2024-09-04/ https://www.dci-palestine.org/israeli_forces_fatally_shoot_two_palestinian_children_in_the_head_in_the_northern_occupied_west_bank https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/148835 Linked video