Omar Ibrahim Abu ‘Assab

Their life

Omar Ibrahim Abu ‘Assab was a 16-year-old Palestinian teenager from the town of al-Isawiya in occupied East Jerusalem. On November 17, 2021, he was shot and killed by Israeli Border Police officers and an armed civilian guard in Jerusalem’s Old City after allegedly stabbing and injuring two Israeli officers. The incident occurred on al-Wad Street, a busy area near the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Omar’s death was followed by a heavy Israeli security crackdown, including a raid on his family’s home, during which his parents and brother were briefly detained and interrogated. His killing sparked protests and raised concerns from human rights advocates, who cited video footage suggesting that he could have been subdued without lethal force.

Omar Ibrahim Abu ‘Assab was a 16-year-old Palestinian boy from the al-Isawiya neighborhood of occupied East Jerusalem, a community known for frequent confrontations with Israeli authorities and restrictive conditions. Like many Palestinian youths in Jerusalem, Omar grew up in a heavily policed environment, surrounded by political tension, surveillance, and systemic inequalities. On November 17, 2021, Omar allegedly carried out a stabbing attack against two Israeli officers on al-Wad Street in the Old City of Jerusalem. He was immediately shot multiple times by Israeli Border Police officers and an armed civilian guard and died at the scene.

Israeli sources stated that both a 20-year-old female officer and a male officer around the same age sustained moderate and mild injuries, respectively. In the hours following his death, Israeli forces raided Omar’s home, detained his parents and brother for questioning, and ransacked the property. The family was later released after several hours. The Israeli crackdown e

How they died

Omar Ibrahim Abu ‘Assab died from gunshot wounds after being shot by Israeli officers and an armed civilian in Jerusalem.

Omar was shot and killed by multiple rounds of live fire after allegedly stabbing two Israeli officers near al-Wad Street in the Old City of Jerusalem. According to the Israeli police, the teen posed a threat during the incident, prompting officers and a civilian guard to open fire. However, legal experts and human rights organizations, upon reviewing surveillance video of the incident, questioned whether Omar had to be killed, suggesting that the officers could have neutralized him with non-lethal means. The second-guessing of the force used has led to accusations of extrajudicial execution. Despite legal efforts, Israeli authorities have refused to return Omar’s body to his family.

Why we remember them

This record exists so that Omar Ibrahim Abu ‘Assab, and all who are named in this archive, are never reduced to a number.

References & sources