Sharif Khaled Suleiman

Their life

Name: Sharif Khaled Suleiman
Age: 38
From: Marada, Salfit region, West Bank
Date of Death: May 14, 2021
Cause of Death: Shot during a protest against Israeli actions in the West Bank

Brief Overview:
Sharif Khaled Suleiman was a 38-year-old Palestinian man from the village of Marada in the Salfit region of the West Bank. He was tragically killed during demonstrations on May 14, 2021, as part of the broader Palestinian uprising in response to Israeli military actions in Gaza, violence in Jerusalem, and settler aggression in the West Bank. Sharif was participating in one of the many protests that spread across the region as Palestinians voiced their opposition to the Israeli occupation and military tactics. He was shot by Israeli forces during these protests, becoming one of the many casualties of the ongoing violence.

Early Life and Background:
Sharif Khaled Suleiman was born and raised in Marada, a village located in the Salfit region of the West Bank. Like many Palestinians in the occupied territories, Sharif lived under the constant stress of Israeli military occupation and settler violence. The Salfit region has long been an area of friction, with its proximity to Israeli settlements and the illegal construction of roads and barriers that restrict the movement of Palestinians.

Sharif’s life was shaped by the difficulties of living under occupation, but also by a strong sense of community and resistance. He was known to be an active member of his village, participating in local activities and taking part in the defense of Palestinian land. His village, like many others, faced the daily challenges of Israeli military raids, settler attacks, and restrictions on freedom of movement.

Involvement in Protests:
The situation in the region escalated in May 2021, as tensions between Israel and Palestine reached new heights. Protests erupted across the West Bank in response to the violent Israeli police raids on al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem and the forced eviction of Palestinian families from Sheikh Jarrah. The protests were also fueled by the ongoing aerial bombardment of Gaza by the Israeli military.

Sharif, like many Palestinians, took part in these protests, demanding justice and an end to the occupation. The demonstrations, which were largely peaceful, often faced violent suppression by Israeli forces, who used rubber bullets, live ammunition, and tear gas to disperse the crowds.

Death during the May 14 Protests:
On May 14, 2021, Sharif was killed during a protest in Marada. As the Israeli military and police responded to the demonstrations with increasing force, Sharif was tragically shot and fatally wounded. His death, along with that of other Palestinians, underscored the brutal nature of the Israeli military’s response to Palestinian protests during this period.

The Israeli forces claimed that they responded with live ammunition after encountering stone-throwing demonstrators. However, many Palestinians and human rights organizations argue that these protests were largely peaceful, with the use of live ammunition being an excessive and disproportionate response.

How they died

Shot during a protest against Israeli actions in the West Bank

Sharif was one of the Palestinians who was tragically killed during a wave of protests in the West Bank. The protests were sparked by the ongoing violence in Gaza, the Israeli military's actions in Jerusalem, and the growing number of settler violence incidents in the West Bank. During these demonstrations, Sharif was shot and killed by Israeli forces or settlers, and his death added to the growing toll of casualties in the ongoing unrest.

Why we remember them

This record exists so that Sharif Khaled Suleiman, and all who are named in this archive, are never reduced to a number.

References & sources