Palestinian mum seeks justice after 2yo dies as IDF targets Jenin

In the West Bank, four small, circular bullet holes mark the windows of Taima Bassam Asous's home. A bullet hole is visible in her sofa, and another is in the wall near the bedroom door, positioned low, close to the floor. These impacts serve as stark reminders of the tragic event that unfolded.

These bullet holes were caused by Israeli soldiers firing at her home from a neighboring house across the street. The Israeli military claims the soldiers opened fire because they believed Palestinian militants were hiding inside. However, one of the bullets did not strike the sofa or the wall, but instead hit Taima Bassam Asous's two-year-old daughter, Leila al Khatib, in the head. The incident has sparked outrage and condemnation.

Ms. Bassam Asous recalled, "The bullet grazed her forehead. I called my mother, and she told me 'it's okay'. Leila cried for a moment, and then I looked at my hand, and it was covered in blood." She added, "I turned her around and found that the back of her head seemed empty, with only a layer of skin remaining." The horror of the moment is etched in her memory.

At the time of the incident, the family was eating dinner when they suddenly heard gunfire and quickly sought refuge in the bedroom. Leila's father held her, attempting to seek medical help, but Ms. Bassam Asous said they were stopped by Israeli soldiers. "My father told them the little girl had been hit by a bullet, but they wouldn't let him out," she said. "They arrested him and handed Leila to her grandmother. She started running to find an ambulance. They didn't allow the ambulance to come pick her up. They came to check on her and said she was just injured." The family's desperation was met with resistance.

"They sent her back, delaying the ambulance's arrival, even though they knew she might die. So, by the time she reached the hospital, her condition was already very critical." Leila died shortly after in the hospital. The Israeli military denies that soldiers obstructed the ambulance's passage. In a statement to ABC News, the IDF said, "Immediately following the fire, the soldiers identified the possibility of casualties to non-involved civilians in the structure and coordinated the swift arrival of the Red Crescent to evacuate them." The differing accounts highlight the complexities of the situation.

The IDF also stated that soldiers issued warnings to residents before opening fire, but Ms. Bassam Asous and her family dispute this claim. The IDF said in its statement, "The security forces operate in a highly complex and challenging environment in Judea and Samaria (the biblical name for the West Bank used by the Israeli government), where terrorists carry out terror attacks while using civilians as human shields. The IDF regrets any harm to non-involved civilians and takes every possible measure to prevent such incidents from occurring." The statement reflects the ongoing conflict and the challenges faced by the military.

According to UNICEF, Leila al Khatib is one of 13 Palestinian children killed by Israeli forces in the West Bank this year. The UN states that as of February 17, more than 50 people have been killed and 40,000 displaced since the Israeli military launched a large-scale operation in three cities in the northern occupied Palestinian territories. The Israeli military says the operation is in response to an increase in attacks by Palestinian armed groups. The escalating violence raises concerns about the safety and well-being of civilians.

The IDF said in a statement, "Since the October 7 massacre, there has been a significant increase in terrorist attacks in Judea and Samaria and the Jordan Valley area, with over 2,000 attempted attacks since the beginning of the war. The IDF conducts counterterrorism operations to arrest suspects, many of whom are part of the Hamas terrorist organization." Combat engineers equipped with heavy equipment have been operating in refugee camps in cities such as Jenin, Tulkarem, and Tubas, demolishing homes and infrastructure they claim are used to manufacture and store weapons. The operations are aimed at disrupting militant activities.

Halimeh al Zawaideh, a resident of the Jenin refugee camp, told ABC News that the operation has destroyed roads, water and sewage pipes, and electrical infrastructure. "Everything is bad in the camp," she said. "Roads, no water, no light, houses damaged, water tanks on top of buildings damaged. Even the cars in the street are damaged." The destruction has left residents struggling to access basic necessities.

Ms. Zawaideh is staying in a school that has been converted into a shelter for camp residents. She said that Palestinian security forces besieged the camp for 45 days, attempting to dismantle militants from within before the Israeli soldiers entered. "There is no hope. The only hope is to return to our houses. But our houses are damaged, no windows, no doors," Ms. Zawaideh said. The displacement and damage have left residents feeling hopeless.

The main road in front of the Jenin hospital is one of the many roads in the city that have been destroyed. Medical workers, the charity Doctors Without Borders, and the World Health Organization have accused Israeli forces of obstructing the work of emergency responders and hindering access to healthcare. Mahmoud Sadi, director of the Jenin Palestinian Red Crescent, told ABC News that the infrastructure is collapsing. "You can't walk or reach some of these areas. You'll find military vehicles and bulldozers. All of these things obstruct the work of medical personnel," he said. "You can't enter these areas freely. You can't provide humanitarian services freely." The restrictions on access to healthcare are raising serious concerns.

Brice De le Vingne, emergency coordinator for Doctors Without Borders, echoed this sentiment. "You are conducting a large-scale military operation and preventing people from accessing medical care," she said. "You have people who are injured who cannot reach hospitals for treatment. You have people who die or suffer serious consequences because they cannot get adequate care." The impact of the military operation on healthcare access is significant.

The Israeli military says it needs to ensure that ambulances and medical facilities are not being used by armed groups. The IDF said in a statement, "In several worrying instances, terrorist activity was carried out while abusing ambulances and medical facilities. In this way, terrorists hide inside medical facilities and ambulances and use them to carry out attacks. As part of the effort to thwart terrorism, in certain instances, the IDF has no choice but to inspect ambulances leaving camps and villages, while making every effort to minimize delays in order to alleviate harm to non-involved persons and medical." The statement highlights the security concerns that influence military actions.

It is unclear how long the Israeli military plans to continue this operation. Taima Bassam Asous does not want anyone else to be killed and believes her daughter's death should be held accountable. "What happened was barbaric, chaotic," she said. "There is no humanity. They (the Israelis) have no souls. I can't imagine that if a two-and-a-half-year-old child was killed anywhere else, in any country, things would remain the same. The world should do something." Her plea underscores the urgent need for justice and peace.