America is demanding a swift investigation into the killing of 17-year-old Tawfiq Ajaq within the occupied West Financial institution.
America has ordered Israel to launch an investigation into the dying of Tawfiq Ajaq, a 17-year-old Palestinian American who Palestinian authorities say was killed by Israeli troops within the occupied West Financial institution.
At a information convention in Washington, D.C. on Monday, US State Division spokesman Vedant Patel instructed reporters that america is “devastated by the killing” and can proceed to “have interaction intently with the Authorities of Israel to safe as a lot data as doable.”
“We have now referred to as for an pressing investigation to find out the circumstances of his dying,” Patel mentioned. He added that the top of the US Workplace of Palestinian Affairs had visited Ajaq's household to supply condolences and continues to help them along with the US Embassy in Jerusalem.
Ajaq was born in Gretna, Louisiana, close to New Orleans, and was dropped at the West Financial institution by his dad and mom final yr.
Ajaq's relative, Joe Abdel Qaki, mentioned Tawfiq and a good friend had been having a barbecue in a village area when he was shot.
Talking at his son's funeral on Saturday, Tawfiq's father, Hafez Ajaq, mentioned Israeli forces within the occupied West Financial institution had been “killing machines”.
Israeli police mentioned they obtained a report on Friday relating to a “firearm discharge, apparently involving a legislation enforcement officer, a soldier and a civilian.”
Police haven’t recognized who fired the shot, though they mentioned the capturing was geared toward individuals “allegedly engaged in rock-throwing actions alongside Freeway 60,” the principle north-south street within the occupied West Financial institution.
“This isn’t the primary time that the Palestine Youngsters's Protection has not been in a position to affirm whether or not a settler or a soldier has killed a baby. One helps and helps the opposite,” Miranda Cleland, a protection officer of the Protection for kids in Palestine, he mentioned in a submit on X.
Tawfiq is an American boy who was chased and shot by an Israeli settler, THEN the Israeli forces stood up and continued to shoot. This isn’t the primary time @DCIPalestine he couldn’t affirm whether or not a settler or soldier killed a baby. One helps and helps the opposite. https://t.co/hvwD8LYuZM
— Miranda Cleland (@MirandaCleland) January 20, 2024
At the least 369 individuals have been killed by Israeli troops and settlers within the occupied West Financial institution since October, together with 95 kids.
The United Nations Youngsters's Fund (UNICEF) additionally famous that 2023 was the deadliest yr for kids within the occupied West Financial institution and East Jerusalem, with 124 Palestinian and 6 Israeli kids killed because the starting of the 'yr.
Mustafa Barghouti, the secretary common of the Palestinian Nationwide Initiative get together, instructed Al Jazeera that the growing raids and assaults within the occupied West Financial institution are an try by Israel to regain the territory “utterly”.
“It is a clear message from [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu,” Barghouti mentioned. “He says there isn’t any longer anyplace for any unbiased Palestinian authority right here. It’s reoccupying the West Financial institution whereas making an attempt to reoccupy Gaza.”