Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., July 18, 2007 Av 3, 5767 | | Israel Time: 13:22 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
  Back to Homepage
Print Edition
Diplomacy
Defense Opinion Arts & Leisure Jewish World National Sports Advertising  
Magazine Week's End
Q&A
 Business Anglo File Rosner's Domain Real Estate Travel  
Bookmark to del.icio.us
The toy rifle (top) held by 16-year-old Mohammed A-Sahafi when he was shot by IDF troops in Hebron on Tuesday, compared to a real M-16 assault rifle. (IDF)
Last update - 23:51 03/07/2007
IDF kills 16-year-old Palestinian carrying toy rifle in Hebron
By Avi Issacharoff, Haaretz Correspondent and Haaretz Service

Israel Defense Forces troops Tuesday shot and killed a 16-year-old Palestinian who was holding a toy gun in the West Bank city of Hebron.

A paratroop unit operating in the the Wadi Tufah area opened fire on two Palestinians who appeared to be armed, only to discover that both had toy guns resembling M-16 assault rifles.

The victim, Mohammed al-Sahafi, was shot at least four times in the upper body. His body remained at the scene for some time before being removed.

Advertisement

Military sources said the incident's circumstances will be investigated, and denied Palestinian allegations that IDF dogs had mauled the body. The IDF said no canine units were deployed in the area at the time, and stressed that soldiers treated Sahafi and remained with him until he was transferred to a Red Crescent ambulance.

The IDF Spokesman's Office last night distributed photographs comparing the toy guns and genuine M-16 rifles, pointing out the similarities in size and structure. Soldiers said the toy guns were fitted with telescopic sights that appeared authentic.

Earlier Tuesday, Palestinians fired three mortar shells at the Negev, shortly before a planned visit by a delegation of American university presidents, Israel Radio reported.

On Monday, IDF troops killed an Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade commander in a pre-dawn gunbattle in the West Bank refugee camp of Jenin early Monday.

25-year-old Mohammed Abu al-Heija, a leader of the Fatah-affiliated Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades in the Jenin refugee camp was also the deputy of Zakariya Zubeidi, one of the top commanders of the Fatah-linked armed group.

Also Monday, defense establishment sources announced that the Shin Bet security service had recently arrested 11 Hamas militants in East Jerusalem.

Bookmark to del.icio.us
An easy read
A new simple-Hebrew newspaper will target new immigrants, kids and Arabs.
Money tastes
Sports championships and holidays increase demand for pumpkin seeds and legumes.
  1.   what else do you expect...? 19:22  |  ravi 03/07/07
  2.   It happens everywhere 19:29  |  Dave 03/07/07
  3.   that is what happens when parents trust care of their kids to imm 19:38  |  ralph 03/07/07
  4.   Ravi your so wrong # 1 19:39  |  Shepherd 03/07/07
  5.   another example of death teaching cartoons immoral leaders 19:41  |  ralph 03/07/07
  6.   #1 - chandigarh 19:45  |  MichaelF 03/07/07
  7.   #1 Ravi 19:47  |  Amanda Brunyee 03/07/07
  8.   maybe the state-of-the-art binoculars didn`t work 19:48  |  Jew 03/07/07
  9.   Violence 19:48  |  From the Moon 03/07/07
  10.   Proves sanctions are working 19:48  |  Tom 03/07/07
  11.   Dave, of course, even the Nazis killed children 19:49  |  German 03/07/07
  12.   `toys` 19:52  |  Marc 03/07/07
  13.   Pity for the parents 19:57  |  Kate 03/07/07
  14.   Try that in the US and see what happens... 20:00  |  Klomp 03/07/07
  15.   # 2 Dave 20:06  |  Realistic arab 03/07/07
  16.   #1 NYC`s Finest Speak Out on Toy Guns 20:09  |  Kate 03/07/07
  17.   don`t cary toy guns in a war zone 20:10  |  j dog 03/07/07
  18.   They no longer chase cars 20:12  |  Shimon List 03/07/07
  19.   Israeli death squads in action. 20:12  |  Apartheid 03/07/07
  20.   Who Plays With Toy Guns in the W-BAnk? 20:21  |  Gilgimesh 03/07/07
  21.   16 is a boy...but 20:21  |  Peter 03/07/07
  22.   2. Dave, I challenge you to write a talkback justfying the death 20:22  |  Apartheid 03/07/07
  23.   he was actually holding an imitation M16...playing to kill IDF.. 20:22  |  The 72... 03/07/07
  24.   #1 It was an accident!!!! 20:43  |  Daniel Friedman 03/07/07
  25.   realistic arab 20:43  |  Bill 03/07/07
  26.   It is bad enough this lad gets murdered 20:46  |  Jebediah Springfield 03/07/07
  27.   It wasn`t the IDF`s mistake, it was the boy`s 20:48  |  David Teich 03/07/07
  28.   WHAT KIND OF 16 YEAR OLD PLAYS WITH TOY RIFLES? 20:56  |  Dani 03/07/07
  29.   What a Stupid 16 Year Old!!! 20:57  |  Mike 03/07/07
  30.   #1 That`s just what to expect when carrying 20:58  |  * BEN JABO 03/07/07
  31.   #3 Jew - I doubt it 21:00  |  * BEN JABO 03/07/07
  32.   IDF Motto 21:02  |  Janice 03/07/07
  33.   In Israel 21:03  |  Mike 03/07/07
  34.   Another victim of Farfur the murder mouse 21:04  |  Daniel 03/07/07
  35.   16 yr old with toy rifle? 21:05  |  lola 03/07/07
  36.   IDF Is Quick to Shoot Palestinian Children, Armed or Unarmed 21:05  |  Fred Farkelsteinman 03/07/07
  37.   #6 German (oy vey) 21:06  |  * BEN JABO 03/07/07
  38.   They banned toy guns in Toronto. why not Hebron? 21:08  |  Richard S 03/07/07
  39.   nonsense 21:08  |  Yehiel 03/07/07
  40.   #8 Kate 21:09  |  * BEN JABO 03/07/07
  41.   #19 Apartheid 21:17  |  * BEN JABO 03/07/07
  42.   Pretty stupid kid 21:19  |  Mark Lincoln 03/07/07
  43.   #15 Realistic Arab 21:21  |  * BEN JABO 03/07/07
  44.   shoot first make excuses later huh 21:27  |  anonymouse 03/07/07
  45.   Haaretz journalism 21:34  |  Daniel 03/07/07
  46.   Don`t blame the soldiers! Who runs before IDF with M16 replica?! 21:35  |  Roni 03/07/07
  47.   16 year old with a toy gun? 21:38  |  Lynn 03/07/07
  48.   #28 Janice 21:40  |  * BEN JABO 03/07/07
  49.   #31 iola - there is a pattern 21:43  |  * BEN JABO 03/07/07
  50.   #34 fred Fartshtinkenmannn 21:54  |  * BEN JABO 03/07/07
  51.   #46 Lynn 22:01  |  * BEN JABO 03/07/07
  52.   Sad but explainable 22:06  |  Ricardo 03/07/07
  53.   Repayments 22:06  |  Hannah 03/07/07
  54.   There is no reason to doubt that IDF INDEED IS THE MORAL ARMY! 22:25  |  Vittorio 03/07/07
  55.   Every life is precious 22:30  |  Naseem 03/07/07
  56.   to all Israelis 22:33  |  Leb 03/07/07
  57.   How are we allowing Hannah to post? 22:39  |  H M 03/07/07
  58.   WAS the boy set up to be a child martyr.?Very consistent 22:48  |  PETER SM 03/07/07
  59.   Who`s who? 22:49  |  Katharina 03/07/07
  60.   there is no excuse 22:50  |  citizen zero 03/07/07
  61.   Keep counting folks. Next year I`ll mention the number of childr 22:54  |  Apartheid 03/07/07
  62.   Call it a training opportunity 22:58  |  Natallie Durson 03/07/07
  63.   yes, Hannah, repayments. Continue the cycle the Pals started 23:02  |  Richard S 03/07/07
  64.   Tragic -But 23:03  |  Dr David I.Gross 03/07/07
  65.   #53 You must like war and suffering 23:03  |  j dog 03/07/07
  66.   Maybe 23:07  |  Kike 03/07/07
  67.   Ricardo 23:10  |  BDE 03/07/07
  68.   So what? 23:11  |  Judge 03/07/07
  69.   For the misuer of the word "Apartheid" 23:11  |  GZLives 03/07/07
  70.   50 BJ They wouldn`t need human shields if Israeli death squads 23:12  |  Apartheid 03/07/07
  71.   #40 Ben Jabo... 23:19  |  Kate 03/07/07
  72.   Hannah please explain how this was a crime against humanity 23:23  |  PETER SM 03/07/07
  73.   replica picture 23:28  |  Marc 03/07/07
  74.   How dare a child hold a toy gun in front of a Jew... 23:28  |  Ibrahim 03/07/07
  75.   So what? 23:29  |  Judge 03/07/07
  76.   Hannah 23:34  |  Polybios 03/07/07
  77.   36 Horrific! This seems to be routine with the IDF,Fred F. there 23:36  |  lakshmi 03/07/07
  78.   Would never happen here 23:40  |  christa 03/07/07
  79.   #54 23:48  |  BRL 03/07/07
  80.   Hannah 23:48  |  Connie 03/07/07
  81.   Did the IDF confirm the kill 23:51  |  El-Birawi 03/07/07
  82.   "Yesterday`s South African township dwellers can tell you about 23:51  |  Apartheid 03/07/07
  83.   38 / Ban toy guns / guns kill 23:54  |  Bill 03/07/07
  84.   What`s with all the WAR ZONE talk 00:02  |  Victor 04/07/07
  85.   APARTHEID keep counting the attempts at killing Israelis 00:04  |  PETER SM 04/07/07
  86.   FRED F Re Your need to distort the case of Captain R 00:13  |  PETER SM