Fadi Mohammad Ghattas

Their life

Fadi Mohammad Fayez Ghattas was a 19-year-old Palestinian from the Deheishe refugee camp, located south of Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank. Raised amid the harsh conditions of life under Israeli occupation, Fadi lived with the daily struggles that face many Palestinian youths in refugee camps—military presence, checkpoints, and limited opportunities. On September 2, 2022, he was shot and killed by Israeli soldiers near the Beit Einoun junction, northeast of Hebron, following an alleged stabbing incident. He was left bleeding on the ground as soldiers blocked medics from reaching him and later taken to a hospital in occupied Jerusalem, where he was pronounced dead. Fadi’s death added to the growing number of young Palestinians killed amid intensifying military actions and occupation-related violence in the West Bank.

Fadi Mohammad Fayez Ghattas was a 19-year-old young Palestinian man from the Deheishe Refugee Camp, located south of Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank. Like many in the camp, he lived under the constant pressures of military occupation, economic deprivation, and restricted freedom of movement. His life was shaped by the daily realities of checkpoints, raids, and the systemic discrimination imposed by the Israeli occupation.

On the day of his death, Israeli authorities claimed that he carried out a stabbing attack targeting soldiers stationed near the Beit Einoun junction, northeast of Hebron and close to the illegal Israeli colony of Kiryat Arba’. His family, however, was given no prior warning or information. Fadi’s father, Mohammad Ghattas, was only informed after being summoned to the Etzion military base, where he was shown a graphic image of his son shot and bleeding. He was never given clear answers about why his son had to be fatally shot rather than arrested or incapacitated.

Eyewitnesses reported that soldiers continued firing at Fadi even after he had fallen to the ground and bled for an extended period without receiving medical aid. Attempts by Palestinian civilians and medics to assist him were met with tear gas and stun grenades by Israeli forces. Eventually, Israeli forces removed Fadi from the scene and took him to a hospital in occupied Jerusalem, where he was declared dead.

Fadi’s death sparked protests in the area, with Palestinians marching in anger over his killing and voicing opposition to the Israeli occupation and its expanding settlements.

How they died

He was shot and killed by Israeli soldiers

Fadi Ghattas died from multiple gunshot wounds inflicted by Israeli soldiers at close range. Witnesses stated that he was shot even after falling to the ground, and he was left bleeding without medical attention for a significant time. He later succumbed to his wounds in a hospital in occupied Jerusalem.

Why we remember them

This record exists so that Fadi Mohammad Ghattas, and all who are named in this archive, are never reduced to a number.

References & sources