Killing of a child by Palestinian security forces may amount to unlawful killing

Bani Odeh and his wife and children were reportedly driving at the Tammun-Tubas junction when undercover PSF members opened fire on the car, immediately killing 15-year-old Ali, and shooting 5-year-old Ronza in the head, who remains in critical condition. An eyewitness told the UN Human Rights Office in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OHCHR OPT) that there was no warning before the shots were fired. The third child, 17-year-old Yazen, was also injured with shrapnel.  Beni Odeh himself was reportedly shot in the leg before he was detained and taken away by PSF.  

Beni Odeh is also wanted by Israeli security forces which had arrested his wife multiple times in an apparent effort to force him to surrender, according to OHCHR OPT monitoring.  

The incident recalls PSF’s security operation in the northern West Bank between December 2024 and January 2025 which preceded the Israeli security forces’ clearing of the Jenin, Tulkarem and Nur Shams refugee camps in the area. At the time, PSF killed nine Palestinians including four boys, with four others were killed by either PSF or armed Palestinians.  

Despite PSF’s repeated statements at the time vowing to initiate investigations into killings and to hold perpetrators to account, there has been no available outcome of these reported investigations to date. Following the incident of 15 February, PSF again issued a statement declaring that an investigation is initiated.  

PSF are bound by international human rights law which strictly limits the use of potentially lethal force in law enforcement to situations where it is necessary to protect life or prevent injury from an imminent threat. Palestinian authorities have an obligation to conduct prompt, thorough and transparent investigations into any use of lethal force by PSF, and, in the case of violations, hold perpetrators accountable.