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Soldiers fired at and seriously wounded child Ahmad
Salah 14, from Al-Kahder village near the west bank city of
Bethlehem, on Wednesday because he refused to collaborate and
lead them to the homes of stone throwers.
Salah was wounded in the back and the chest told
reporters from his Beit Jala hospital bed that soldiers arrested him
from inside a grocery shop, took him to the nearby Road 60, and asked
him to lead them to the homes of three teens who earlier have thrown
stones at traveling Israeli vehicles.
"I told them I saw no stone throwers" Salah said.
Yet, soldiers took Salah to his home, searched the
place and asked him to call his father. When the father, Taha Salah
arrived, a soldier told him that his son threw stones at them. Taha
then slapped his son on the face, the officer told him that his son
did not throw stones, but they want him to lead them to the homes of
three teens who has thrown stones at soldiers.
Salah told his father that he didn't see anyone
throwing stones at soldiers, but soldiers didn't believe him and
strongly pushed him and his father.
"I told them that you say my son didn't throw
stones, leave him alone. You have no right to force him to lead you to
the homes of other villagers" the father said.
One soldier pushed the father again and warned him
that if Ahmed refuse to lead them to the homes of alleged stone
throwers, they are going to arrest him.
"I told them to do what they want, and asked Ahmed
to step out of the military Jeep. Ahmed jumped out and started to run
towards our home. At this point, two soldiers started chasing Ahmed, a
third soldier fired at him from few meters' distance" the father said.
"I jumped off the Jeep and ran towards home. I
heard shooting and felt something penetrating my body. I fell on the
ground besides the fence of my home, and woke up in the hospital"
Salah said.
Ahmed confirmed that he didn't see anyone throwing
stones.
The day after, Ahmed's father was called to the
police station in Gush Itzion settlement, where the army officer
extended an apology.
"If you aimed at arresting him, you could have shot
at his legs, not his back" Taha said he told the officer.
Taha also said that he intends to file a complain,
but expressed worries of future harassment. |