Emad Hashash

Their life

Emad Hashash was a 15-year-old Palestinian boy from Balata refugee camp, located east of the northern West Bank city of Nablus. On August 24, 2021, he was fatally shot in the head by Israeli forces during a military raid on the camp. Emad was reportedly observing and recording the incursion from the rooftop of his home when he was struck. Despite efforts to save him, he was pronounced dead after being transferred to Rafidia Hospital in Nablus.

Emad Hashash, aged 15, was a resident of the densely populated Balata refugee camp near Nablus in the northern West Bank. In the early hours of August 24, 2021, the Israeli army launched a raid on the camp, prompting confrontations with residents. Emad, along with his brother Mohammad, went to the rooftop of their home to watch and document the scene using their phones as Israeli vehicles entered the area. According to his family, he was unarmed and not participating in any violence. A soldier shot Emad in the head; the bullet entered through his nose and exited the back of his skull. His family was unable to get him immediate help, as Israeli forces reportedly blocked the ambulance and hurled a gas grenade at their home’s main entrance. It took roughly 40 minutes before medics could reach him. Emad was eventually taken to Rafidia Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The Israeli military claimed the shooting occurred during an operation to arrest a wanted individual and alleged that Emad appeared to be about to throw a rock. However, eyewitness accounts contradict this claim, saying the child was simply observing the events. His death highlights the risks faced by children in conflict zones and the frequent incursions into Palestinian civilian areas.

How they died

Gunshot wound to the head caused by live ammunition fired by Israeli forces.

Emad Hashash died after being shot in the head with live ammunition by an Israeli soldier during a military raid on Balata refugee camp. According to his brother, the bullet entered through Emad’s nose and exited through the back of his skull. He was on the roof of his home observing the incursion, not engaging in any hostilities. Medics were delayed in reaching him due to Israeli forces obstructing access and using tear gas near the home. Despite eventually being transferred to Rafidia Hospital in Nablus, Emad was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

A plea from the family

Emad Hashash’s family, particularly his brother Mohammad, expressed deep anguish over the circumstances of his killing. Mohammad recounted that he and Emad had gone to the rooftop of their home simply to take photos and videos of Israeli military vehicles during the early morning raid. He emphasized that Emad was not armed and was not participating in any violence, directly contradicting Israeli claims. Mohammad also described how the Israeli soldiers obstructed emergency medical aid, delaying help for his critically wounded brother. He said, “It took about 40 minutes from the moment he was shot until the medics were able to transfer him to the hospital... We were unable to leave our home to seek help for more than 15 minutes.” Although the family has not issued a formal public statement, their recounting of the incident amounts to an emotional plea for justice, accountability, and the protection of innocent civilians, particularly children. Emad’s killing has become a symbol of the extreme dangers Palestinian youth face during military incursions, and the family’s testimony challenges the official military narrative, seeking recognition of Emad’s innocence and the wrongful circumstances of his death.

Why we remember them

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

References & sources