A whole bunch of Palestinians gathered in Bethlehem on Friday for the funeral of a 7-year-old boy who died after allegedly being chased by Israeli troops within the city of Taquo, south of Bethlehem within the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territory of the West Financial institution.
Rayyan Suleiman's father stated his son was strolling dwelling with faculty pals Thursday when Israeli forces chased them.
"His coronary heart stopped beating as a result of he was so scared," Yasser Suleiman instructed Palestinian media, insisting that his son didn't have any pre-existing medical circumstances.
The Well being Ministry of the Palestinian Authority, which relies within the West Financial institution, stated in a press release that the minor died after "falling from a excessive place" through the chase. Nevertheless, medical employees on the Beit Jala Governmental Hospital, the place Suleiman was pronounced lifeless, instructed media shops the boy's coronary heart stopped beating as he ran away from the troops.
The Israel Protection Forces (IDF) stated in a press release offered to CBS Information that on Thursday, "plenty of Palestinians hurled rocks towards civilians adjoining to the village" in query, after which troopers "looked for the suspects, who had fled into the village. In the course of the searches, there have been no clashes and no technique of riot dispersal or stay ammunition have been used."
Israeli media cited the IDF as saying forces had questioned a number of Palestinian dad and mom, together with Suleiman's father, over their youngsters's alleged involvement within the stone-throwing.
The IDF stated an "preliminary inquiry exhibits no connection between the searches performed by the IDF within the space and the tragic dying of the kid." It added that the main points of the incident remained "beneath assessment."
The U.S. State Division on Thursday referred to as for a "thorough and speedy" investigation into the boy's dying, with deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel saying: "We're heartbroken by the dying of an harmless youngster."
The European Union Delegation to Palestinian Territories stated it was "shocked by the tragic dying of seven yrs previous, Rayyan Suleiman," and likewise referred to as for a radical investigation.
"Beneath worldwide regulation, youngsters take pleasure in particular safety. The circumstances of this incident have to be swiftly and totally investigated by Israeli authorities with a view to carry the perpetrators to justice," the delegation stated on Twitter.
EU Particular Consultant for Human Rights Eamon Gilmore referred to as it "heartbreaking that a routine exercise has change into lethal for kids," and added that "the EU requires a direct halt to the violence."
The incident comes amid heightened pressure between Palestinians and Israeli forces within the West Financial institution as each Jews and Muslims mark holidays.
The Palestinian militant group Hamas denounced what it stated have been crimes perpetrated by Israeli forces towards Palestinian youngsters and referred to as for Israeli leaders to be placed on a "checklist of disgrace."
"The escalation of the occupation's terrorism towards the youngsters of Palestine is against the law that requires worldwide motion," the group stated in a press release.
Palestinian medical sources declare that 36 Palestinian youngsters have been killed by Israeli safety forces this yr.
CBS Information' Michal Ben-Gal contributed to this report.