Ahmad Younis al-Atrash
Shot in the head with a live bullet by Israeli soldiers during a protest in Hebron.
Ahmad Younis al-Atrash was killed on April 1, 2022, when Israeli forces opened fire on a protest in Shallala Street, located in the heart of Hebron city in the occupied West Bank. During the protest, Israeli soldiers used excessive force, including live ammunition, rubber-coated steel bullets, and tear gas canisters, to disperse the demonstrators. Ahmad was struck in the head by a live bullet, causing critical injuries. He was quickly evacuated to a hospital, but despite medical efforts, he succumbed to his wounds shortly afterward.
The protest in Hebron occurred in response to mounting Israeli military aggression across the West Bank, particularly following a deadly Israeli raid earlier that same day in Jenin and its refugee camp, where two other Palestinians were killed. Ahmad's death is emblematic of the lethal tactics often used by Israeli forces against unarmed Palestinian demonstrators. His status as a former political prisoner and previous survivor of Israeli gunfire underscores the repeated and targeted violence faced by Palestinians under occupation.
Biography
Ahmad Younis al-Atrash, 29, was a Palestinian from Hebron in the southern part of the occupied West Bank. He was killed on April 1, 2022, after being shot in the head by Israeli soldiers during a protest in Shallala Street, Hebron. A former political prisoner, al-Atrash had been released a year earlier after spending eight years in Israeli prisons. He had previously survived a gunshot injury inflicted by Israeli forces. On the day of his death, Israeli troops attacked protesters with live ammunition, rubber-coated bullets, and tear gas, leading to several injuries. His death occurred amid escalating violence in the West Bank, including the killing of two other Palestinians—Yazid Nidal Sa’adi and Sanad Mohammad Abu Atiya—during Israeli raids in Jenin earlier the same day.
Ahmad Younis al-Atrash was a 29-year-old Palestinian man from the historic city of Hebron, located in the southern part of the occupied West Bank. Deeply affected by the ongoing Israeli military occupation, Ahmad was known in his community for his resilience and steadfastness. He spent eight years in Israeli prisons as a political prisoner, a period that marked him as a symbol of resistance among his peers and family. Following his release in 2021, he attempted to rebuild his life in a city frequently marred by military incursions and settler violence.
Ahmad had previously been injured by Israeli forces, reflecting the repeated risks he faced under occupation. On April 1, 2022, during a protest on Shallala Street in Hebron against Israeli military actions, he was shot in the head by Israeli soldiers. Despite being rushed to a hospital, he succumbed to his injuries. The protest was met with extreme force: live rounds, rubber-coated steel bullets, and tear gas were used against demonstrators, resulting in multiple injuries and cases of tear gas inhalation.
His killing came on the same day as two other Palestinian youths—Yazid Nidal Sa’adi, 27, and Sanad Mohammad Abu Atiya, 17—were fatally shot by Israeli forces during a raid on Jenin and its refugee camp. Ahmad’s life and death reflect the broader Palestinian experience under occupation: imprisonment, repeated exposure to violence, and a continued struggle for dignity and freedom.
Additional Information
Sources & References
Ahmad Younis al-Atrash, 29, was killed by Israeli soldiers during a procession in Hebron city in the southern part of the occupied West Bank. The Palestinian Health Ministry said al-Atrash was shot with a live round in the head before being rushed to a hospital, where he succumbed to his serious wounds. Al-Atrash was shot during protests in the Shallala Street in Hebron after the army attacked the protesters with many live rounds, rubber-coated steel bullets, and gas bombs.1 israelpalestinetimeline.org Open source