Haaretz: Israeli Soldier Killed Sleeping Palestinian in West Bank, Then Wondered Why
Occupied West Bank (Quds News Network)- Israeli soldiers stormed a Palestinian home in the West Bank village of Jit before dawn on May 28. Moments later, 20-year-old Jassem al-Sidda was dead—shot four times while asleep in his bed. His brother heard the soldiers asking the shooter: “Why did you shoot?”, reported Haaretz.
According to eyewitnesses, chaos followed the shooting. Fellow soldiers surrounded the shooter. “Why did you shoot? Are you crazy?” one asked. Another questioned, “Whose body is it?” The shooter reportedly replied he didn’t know.
Jassem’s father, Ibrahim, woke to the sound of soldiers smashing the front door. Within seconds, gunfire erupted from his son’s bedroom. When he rushed to see what happened, soldiers blocked his way. He caught a glimpse of his son, lying on his back, blood pouring from his chest and shoulder.
No one in al-Sidda home was wanted by Israel. The family had no ties to any resistance group. Jassem, the youngest of five siblings, worked in Israeli settlements to help support his parents. He had never been arrested or interrogated.
That night, he returned from work, spent time with his family, and went to sleep. Less than three hours later, he was killed at point-blank range.
The soldiers who raided the house searched several apartments in the building. They found nothing and made no arrests.
The Israeli military later stated that “the event is under investigation.” But many Palestinians view this as another meaningless phrase, repeated after every unjustified killing.
After the shooting, soldiers took Jassem’s body in a military jeep, then transferred it to a Palestinian ambulance at the edge of the village. A medical report confirmed three bullets entered his chest and stomach. A fourth caused shrapnel wounds to his head and arm. Doctors said he was dead on arrival.
