Since early October 2023, there has been a marked increase in the number of Palestinian children and teenagers killed by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank, according to local testimonies and human rights organizations. Families affected by these deaths describe enduring grief and a perceived lack of accountability.
One such case is that of nine-year-old Mohammed al-Hallaq, who was fatally shot last October while fleeing soldiers patrolling his village of Al-Rihiya in the southern West Bank. Mohammed’s mother, Alia al-Hallaq, continues to grieve, referring to herself as a mother of five despite her loss. Relatives and witnesses say the boy was killed by a stray bullet amid a confrontation between an Israeli army patrol and older youths.
Data from Palestinian authorities, including the Wall Resistance Commission, reports approximately 250 Palestinian child and adolescent deaths at the hands of Israeli forces since October 7, 2023. This represents a sharp rise compared to previous years. Human rights group B’Tselem reports an average of one Palestinian child or teenager killed monthly between 2005 and 2021, while the post-October 7 average now stands at roughly seven per month.
Interviews with dozens of Palestinian women who lost children this year reveal patterns of violence often linked to clashes in which Israeli forces have fired at youths labeled as throwing stones or acting as “terrorists.” Israel’s West Bank military commander, Major General Avi Bluth, stated in early 2026 that 42 Palestinians were killed for stone-throwing incidents in 2025, though he did not specify how many were minors.
Other fatalities involve children present during broader military operations, with witnesses describing cases of indiscriminate firing. Among the youngest victims was seven-month-old Sam Abu Haikal, who was shot in the face in Hebron in June 2026. His mother, Dania Abu Haikal, who was also injured by gunfire during the incident, disputed the Israeli military’s account that the troops opened fire after their vehicle accelerated toward them. She said her husband had stopped the car before shots were fired.
Dania Abu Haikal, a university lecturer, described ongoing pain and grief from losing her infant son. “I cry every day; now my life is empty without him,” she said. She and other families have sought legal counsel in pursuit of thorough investigations, but many expressed skepticism about receiving justice. “Palestinians don’t get justice for being killed by Israelis. But we hope that we get justice,” Abu Haikal said.
The surge in deaths and the circumstances surrounding the use of lethal force underscore growing tensions and the persistent cycle of violence in the West Bank. Both Palestinian civilians and Israeli military officials offer conflicting accounts of incidents, complicating efforts to ascertain full facts and responsibility. Meanwhile, families continue to mourn their losses amid calls for greater accountability.