A 14-year-old Palestinian boy, Jad Jadallah, was shot at close range by Israeli soldiers last November in al-Far’a refugee camp in the occupied West Bank. Video footage shows he lay wounded for at least 45 minutes while soldiers blocked ambulances from reaching him.
Get the latest headlines in your email 
According to eyewitnesses and CCTV footage verified by the BBC, 14 Israeli soldiers formed a cordon around Jad as he lay bleeding in an alley. Two Palestinian ambulances were prevented from reaching him.
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) said soldiers provided “initial medical treatment” after confirming he was not wearing an explosive device. A spokesperson declined to give details about the timing or type of treatment.
All Israeli soldiers receive trauma training and combat units include a trained medic. However, the footage does not show soldiers giving life-saving aid. At times, Jad appeared to wave his arms and throw his hat toward the soldiers in an effort to get attention. The soldiers appeared to ignore him and kicked the hat back.
The IDF accused Jad of throwing a rock, which under its rules of engagement can justify lethal force. Footage shows a soldier placing an object next to Jad after he was shot and photographing it. Jad’s family and a leading human rights group said this suggests an attempt to frame him.
Jad was later placed in an Israeli military vehicle. It remains unclear where or how many times he was shot. The military has not returned his body to his family and has declined to answer questions about his injuries.
CCTV footage captured the moment of the shooting. It shows Jad and two friends standing at the corner of an alley after reports that Israeli forces were leaving the camp.
Four soldiers had remained behind, standing a few metres away behind a wall. Jad’s friends ran when they saw the soldiers. The footage shows a soldier stepping into view less than three metres from Jad and opening fire.
Jad ran up the alley after appearing to be hit. The footage shows dust rising ahead of him, suggesting further shots were fired. He collapsed a few metres later, out of the CCTV frame.
Bystander video filmed from another direction shows him on the ground. His mother said she tried to reach him but was blocked by soldiers.
Call logs from the Palestinian Red Crescent show an ambulance arrived eight minutes after the emergency call. Lead paramedic Hassan Fouqha said his team was stopped at gunpoint about 100 yards from Jad and forced to wait for at least 35 minutes.
Fouqha said a second ambulance approaching from another direction was also blocked. “We could have reached him and provided medical aid but we were prevented,” he said.
Al-Far’a camp is home to about 10,000 Palestinians and is subject to frequent Israeli military raids. According to the United Nations, 55 children were killed by Israeli forces in the West Bank last year, and 227 have been killed there since the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.
Join the discussion? 
Already a member? 
Adapted by ASEAN Now · Source · 26 Feb 2026
Recommended Comments
Create an account or sign in to comment