Palestinian Child Shot and Killed in Gaza, Israel Denies Responsibility

Gaza, 12 Muharram 1438/13 October (MINA) – A Palestinian child was allegedly killed by Israeli forces on Wednesday evening in the southern Gaza Strip, while Israeli authorities denied responsibility in his death.

Gaza Ministry of Health spokesperson Ashraf al-Qidra told Ma’an that 10-year-old Abdullah Nasser Atwa Abu Mdeif was shot in the back by a bullet on Wednesday evening in the al-Qarrara area east of Khan Yunis.

Abdullah was later pronounced dead at the Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis.

Al-Qidra said that the child was killed by a bullet fired by Israeli forces deployed in the area.

However, an Israeli army spokesperson told Ma’an that they “were aware of the incident, but not of (Israeli army) involvement.”

Meanwhile, Israeli Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories Yoav Poly Mordechai denied in a statement posted on his Facebook page that the child, which he identified as “Abdullah Abu Mdeif, 13, from Khan Yunis,” was killed by Israeli forces, claiming that he had died after shots were fired in the air during a wedding in the area.

Abdullah may be the 30th Palestinian to be killed by Israeli forces in the besieged Gaza Strip since Oct. 1, 2015, the majority of whom died during clashes, Israeli airstrikes or shelling. (T/R07/R01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)