In the occupied West Bank city of Hebron, hundreds of mourners gathered on Monday to bid farewell to 16-year-old Ibrahim al-Khayatt, a passionate football player who was shot dead by Israeli soldiers. According to witnesses, al-Khayatt was shot in the chest during what Israeli forces described as a 'riot,' but family members insist he was unarmed and posed no threat.
Draped in a Palestinian flag, the teenager's body was carried through the streets as women wailed and men beat their chests in grief. His mother, sobbing over the coffin, recalled how he had just been selected for a local football club. 'He lived and breathed football. He never hurt anyone,' she said.
The Israeli military stated that its troops opened fire after a group of Palestinians hurled stones and Molotov cocktails toward soldiers. However, human rights groups have repeatedly condemned the use of live ammunition against protesters, especially minors. The killing has sparked outrage across Palestinian communities, with calls for an international investigation.
Ibrahim al-Khayatt's death adds to a growing toll of Palestinian youth killed in the ongoing conflict. According to the United Nations, 2023 has seen a significant increase in casualties among minors. As his friends placed a football on his grave, they vowed to keep his memory alive through the sport he loved.