Nablus, occupied West Bank – Islam Madani recalls how families and young people from Askar refugee camp used to gather under olive trees on the slopes of Tel Askar. But the 32-year-old father of two says most no longer go because soldiers shoot so many people there.
Amjad Refaee, director of the Askar Social Development Centre, says memories of those killed by Israeli soldiers haunt one of the only green spaces in the camp where children can play. Since October 7, 2023, the military has killed three teenagers there and maimed many more.
Soldiers no longer fire rubber bullets or aim below the waist, Refaee says: “They shoot to kill, or cause disability.” He adds: “We are animals to them. They terrorise us, kill our young people in cold blood, and keep us here in a prison.”
18-year-old Amir Othman was shot in January last year on Tel Askar, leaving him disabled. His kneecap and thighbone were shattered. He underwent four operations and spent four months bed-bound. “When I woke up from the first surgery, I asked my uncle to shoot me, because I thought it’d be better,” he says.
At least 157 children have been killed by Israeli soldiers or settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 2024, according to Defense for Children International – Palestine. Israel denies targeting children, claiming its raids are necessary for security.
Askar is home to 24,000 people packed into an area the size of 17 football fields. It suffers from unemployment and poverty, according to UNRWA.
Amir, Yamen Habron (17), and Islam Madani (32) were all shot by Israeli forces in the last three years, leading to disabilities. They insist no one is safe when the military storms the camp.
Islam Madani forbids his children from playing outside. His four-year-old son cries uncontrollably every time soldiers enter the camp, knowing what they did to his father. Islam himself was shot by a sniper on January 9, 2024, while rushing to work.
Centre director Amjad Refaee says his purpose is to keep young people alive by giving them hope, because they are “the future of the country”. “Otherwise we will disappear, which is what Israel wants,” he adds.
Source: www.aljazeera.com