Israel’s military vehicles pass through Sebastia, and young people flee as quickly as they can as soon as possible as a result of the recent incursion.
They make an effort to return before invading soldiers cross the street, knowing that if they don’t, they could have disastrous effects.
Walking close to the scenic summit of Sebastia Archaeological Park frequently causes the cries of caution.
Before arriving in the town and its ancient ruins, army vehicles can be seen on the streets below, giving locals a chance to hide their young.
Walking prevention warnings are frequently posted on social media as soon as they are released, and Sebastia residents who were once a tourist hotspot and a religious pilgrimage site have the option of sleeping in their homes or confronting soldiers who no longer exercise restraint.
He “celebrated the murder of my son.”
An Israeli soldier fatally shot Ahmed Jazar, 14, in January of this year, and then triumphantly raised his rifle in the air after hitting the unarmed boy in the chest, piercing his heart.
Ahmed was “celebrating” as he sat patiently starving to death on the ground, his 57-year-old father Rashid’s reported to Al Jazeera.
According to his parents, Ahmed made caring for his afflicted family his calling. He was mature beyond his years.
He wanted to work as a decorator and had some artistic talent. He aspired to start a business to generate enough revenue to buy a permanent residence for his family, a better option than the overcrowded rental apartment they shared.
His mother, Wafaa, claimed that they shot Ahmed and then killed all of his dreams.
“We’re in a state of war, but the army doesn’t.”
No one feels safe with their children unless they are at home, according to the statement, “Soldiers are here every day.”
Wafaa and Rashid claim Ahmed slept in the neighborhood the night before he was killed and woke up in the early afternoon after playing with his friends the night before. He enjoyed cycling near the archaeological park, playing football in the schoolyard, and ordering food from the town’s once-busy cafes.
He left his friends and spent some time with his family, unaware that they would be reuniting in their final moments.
Then, as dinner time approached, his parents drove Ahmed to the bakery to buy bread.
According to Rashid, “It was always a habit of his to come and go in this manner.” Everyone adored him because he was so sociable.
He left and never returned, though, this time.
Some children and young people engage in defiance by throwing stones at heavily armed soldiers or their armored vehicles or shining laser pointers at them as a result of the Israeli soldiers’ frequent raids on occupied West Bank towns.
On the tragic January day, Ahmed and his friends were hiding behind a wall near a nursery as some soldiers rushed their way, according to some neighbors.
Ahmed’s family disputes his involvement in this. Wafaa and Rashid said they were waiting for his return from the stores so they could have dinner together.
Rashid remarked, “He was just a child.” The Israeli soldier was aware that he was a young boy and that he lacked any potential threat to the army.
When they shot him, he was hundreds of meters away from them!
The nursery’s bullet-dented door and facade, which were built by Save The Children, still bear witness to Ahmed’s tragic death.
A military spokesman told Haaretz in March that the Military Police Criminal Investigation Division had launched an investigation following the incident. We can’t go into more detail about an ongoing investigation, of course.
Residents of Sebastia, among others, claim they are used to “sham” investigations that typically end in vain and almost certainly have no punishment for the offender.
The military reached out to Rashid, who declined to provide information for the Ahmed killing investigation.
“They called me to discuss justice after killing my son,” you say? “he said.
Al Jazeera contacted Israeli authorities in writing with requests for comment on the Ahmed-related shooting investigation, but no response was forthcoming at the time of publication.
Sebastia, where the Israeli army regularly raids cities and towns in the West Bank, is one of the few targets. Since late 2022, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right ultranationalist government has increased attacks there.
Fawzi Makhalfeh, 19, and Ahmed, 19, were killed by the military on January 19th, 2023.
Since the coalition government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu came to power, at least 25 people have been injured by gunshot in Sebastia. A 22-year-old man was shot in the chest earlier this month while driving through Sebastia, near the town of Attil.
Additionally, violent settlers wreak havoc on Palestinian landowners who live nearby, which are reliant on agriculture and tourism, and Sebastia is set to receive additional settlements, both official and unofficial.
Soldiers use residents’ mobile phones to attack anyone who resists and post threatening messages. According to a recording that was made by an ostensibly Israeli soldier, one of the recordings accuses townspeople of being “implicit in terrorism” and warns them to “pay the price.”
Justice
In the rented home where they can barely afford, Wafaa and her husband sat on either side of a memorial to their murdered son. Four brothers and three sisters, ages seven and twenty, were left behind by Ahmad.
Rashid used to paint in Israel, but since October 7, he hasn’t been able to travel across the border, which has contributed to the family’s perilous financial situation.
Other than Rashid, the only other family member in employment is Rushdi, 19, who occasionally works as a carpenter.
According to them, Ahmed had left school to support his father by performing odd jobs like olive picking and painting to bring in money for the family. Wafaa, who once made dresses, is unable to find employment and still has five young children in need of her care.
As their mother spoke, Amir, age six, and Adam, age 11, clung on to Ahmed’s other siblings.
Wafaa told Al Jazeera, “Wafaa, I sit by Ahmed’s grave and cry for hours,” she said. I cry whenever I can to prevent my children from seeing me because I must stand up for them.
The 40-year-old was unable to maintain eye contact because she was constantly in tears. She hung Ahmed’s torn clothing, which had been soaked in blood.
Rashid recalled rushing to the scene and stumbling through a crowd to find Ahmed collapsed in a pool of blood moments after the soldiers had left that day.
Ahmed and Rashid later drove with him to Nablus’ An-Najah Hospital, but Rashid’s son was unable to survive. On arrival, he was declared dead.
His mother claims that she awoke feeling defeated as if her life was over because she learned about Ahmed’s murder and fell unconscious.
She claims that Israel wants Sebastia residents to feel this way and to leave.
Rashid claimed that his family had been terrorized into staying indoors because of his son’s murder and that they had locked their doors, hid in a back room, and turned off the lights when invaders occur.
He claims that many people in Sebastia are taking precautions in response to his son’s death, which “sent a chilling message to those who call the ancient town home.
Wafaa continued, “The army comes here every day, and now we fear leaving.” Soldiers are now prepared to shoot children, according to .
