A Palestinian teenager who had been shot during a protest against the death of a toddler in an arson attack by Israeli settlers has died of his wounds.
Palestinian health officials said Saturday that the 18-year-old Laith al-Khaldi succumbed to his wounds a day after being shot in the chest during a demonstration over the killing of Ali Saad Dawabsha, the toddler who burned to death in an attack by Israeli settlers against his house in the village of Duma in the West Bank.
The Israeli military had said it shot Khaldi near Ramallah after he hurled fire bombs at the forces present in the site of the demonstration.
Demonstration continued Saturday in various West Bank cities, with massive clashes reported between angry protesters and Israeli forces in the city of al-Khalil (Hebron). Clashes also erupted between the Palestinians and the settlers in Kusra in northern West Bank, forcing the Israeli army to declare the area a closed military zone.
At least 10 people were wounded in overnight clashes with Israeli police in the Israeli-occupied east al-Quds (Jerusalem). The Tel Aviv regime also said two police officers were lightly wounded in the clashes.
Toddler’s family fighting for life
Meanwhile, reports said that other members of the toddler’s family, who were also injured in the arson attack on their house, were fighting for their lives.
Health officials said that Saad, the father of the family, who was being treated for third-degree burns, is in critical condition. The toddler’s four-year-old brother Ahmed and mother Riham were reported to be in “life-threatening condition.” All family members are being treated in hospitals inside the occupied territories.
Condemnations poured in over the Friday attack, with many around the world calling on the United Nations (UN) and the International Criminal Court (ICC) to hold Israel responsible for the acts of violence by extremist settlers against Palestinians.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has ordered the Palestinian Foreign Ministry to immediately prepare a lawsuit for submission to the ICC over the death of the toddler. Abbas, who has been reportedly asked by Israeli officials not to file the complaint, said Saturday that he doubted Israel could provide “true justice” in the case.