Bakeer Mohammad Hashash

Their life

Bakeer Mohammad Hashash was a 21-year-old Palestinian from the Balata refugee camp in Nablus, located in the northern occupied West Bank. He was killed by Israeli soldiers on January 6, 2022, during a pre-dawn military raid near the camp. Known to Israeli forces as a “wanted” individual, Bakeer had reportedly engaged in previous armed confrontations with the military. His final moments included a prolonged exchange of gunfire with soldiers before he was fatally shot. According to his mother, he had a final coffee at home before expressing concern for his safety. His killing sparked widespread protests and renewed calls for resistance in Nablus.

Bakeer Mohammad Hashash, aged 21, lived in the Balata refugee camp near Nablus in the northern West Bank. Coming from a refugee community known for its dense population and fraught relationship with Israeli military incursions, Bakeer was reportedly involved in armed resistance. His cousin, Mohammad Hashash, stated that Bakeer had previously exchanged fire with Israeli forces during another raid near Joseph’s Tomb in Nablus, which allegedly made him a long-term target of the Israeli military.

On the early morning of January 6, 2022, at around 2:30 a.m., Israeli forces entered Balata refugee camp, its surrounding areas, and al-Quds Street. During the raid, Bakeer engaged in a gunfight with soldiers that lasted approximately 20 minutes before he was fatally shot. His mother shared a poignant final moment: before the soldiers arrived, he asked her for coffee, drank it, and told her he planned to seek safety at a Palestinian Authority security post—but was killed minutes later. Israeli sources confirmed he was on a wanted list, but no arrest was attempted before lethal force was used. His death triggered massive protests in Nablus, with demonstrators calling for continued resistance to the occupation. Bakeer’s life and death reflect the volatility of daily life under occupation, especially for young men in areas like Balata camp.

How they died

Gunshot wounds from Israeli soldiers during an armed confrontation.

Bakeer Mohammad Hashash died after being shot by Israeli soldiers during a military raid in the Balata refugee camp area. The Israeli army claimed that he was a wanted figure and had previously engaged in armed clashes. During the January 6 raid, a prolonged exchange of fire reportedly took place before he was killed. While the Israeli military portrayed him as a threat, Palestinian accounts suggest that no arrest attempt was made and that lethal force was the first and final action. His death, like many in the occupied territories, occurred without trial or due process.

Why we remember them

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

References & sources