Israeli military tactics shift toward lethal force and disability in West Bank raids

Israeli soldiers have conducted repeated raids on Tel Askar, a hilltop area within the Askar refugee camp in the occupied West Bank, resulting in the deaths and severe injuries of numerous young people since October 2023. The site serves as a primary infiltration point for military operations entering the camp, often accessed via the illegal settlement of Elon Moreh. While Israel attributes casualties to security threats, Palestinian monitoring groups report a distinct pattern of lethal force, noting that soldiers have shifted tactics from using rubber bullets or aiming below the waist to shooting to kill or cause permanent disability.

Local officials and community leaders describe the long-term physical and psychological impact on victims, who frequently face barriers to receiving medical care during these operations. Healthcare officials and international organisations state that ambulances are frequently blocked by military jeeps during raids, hindering access to care for the injured. This obstruction has contributed to preventable suffering, with victims requiring multiple surgeries to regain limited mobility after being shot in critical areas such as the legs and hips.

Specific testimonies highlight the mechanism of injuries and the immediate aftermath for three individuals affected by the conflict. Eighteen-year-old Amir Othman lost sensation in his leg after being shot while assisting a wounded friend; he now reports that his mobility will never return to normal despite four operations. Thirty-two-year-old Islam Madani was shot while rushing to work, sustaining a wound that prevents him from standing for long periods and has left him unable to return to his job. Seventeen-year-old Yamen Habron was shot twice near his home, with one bullet lodged in his hip, forcing him to walk with a permanent limp after spending fourteen days in intensive care.

Data compiled by Defence for Children International – Palestine indicates that at least 157 children have been killed by soldiers or Israeli settlers in the West Bank and occupied East Jerusalem since 2024. In the Askar refugee camp alone, Palestinian monitoring groups report that at least 13 Palestinians have been killed since the intensification of the assault following October 7, 2023. While Israel denies targeting children, citing security reasons and the need to clamp down on Palestinian fighters, the frequency of these incidents in densely populated areas has led to a significant rise in casualties among minors.

The Askar refugee camp, home to approximately 24,000 people, remains one of the most densely populated of the 19 refugee camps in the occupied West Bank. Residents describe living in cramped conditions with high unemployment rates, yet the military incursions continue to disrupt daily life and safety. The trauma inflicted on the community extends beyond physical injury, with parents reporting that children cry uncontrollably when soldiers enter the camp, fearing the same fate as their fathers and brothers.

Centre director Amjad Refaee noted that many of the injured individuals, including the three survivors interviewed, have never been active in Palestinian fighting groups. He stated that the purpose of these raids appears to be deepening the misery of life in the camp, as the soldiers target civilians who are simply going about their daily routines. Refaee emphasised that the goal of the occupation is to make the population disappear, leaving the future of the country in a state of despair.