Issa Hani Talqat

Issa Hani Talqat, a 13-year-old Palestinian boy from the town of Arara in the Negev region of southern Israel, tragically died on November 30, 2022, during surgery at Soroka Medical Center. His death came a month after he was critically injured by live gunfire from an Israeli police officer on November 1, 2022. The shooting occurred during post-election celebrations following the announcement of exit polls, which showed the United Arab List (Ra’am) securing only five seats in the Knesset.

Israeli police claimed the officers fired at a vehicle that was "driving wildly," asserting they believed an officer’s life was in danger. However, eyewitnesses disputed this account, stating that Issa was walking on the sidewalk, not inside any car, when he was struck by a bullet in the neck. According to The Times of Israel, Issa’s condition had initially improved after the shooting, but he required multiple complex surgeries. His death occurred minutes after doctors began a procedure to insert a feeding tube.

The officer involved was questioned by the Internal Investigations Department, a division of Israel’s Justice Ministry responsible for examining police misconduct. The officer maintained that he suspected a driver was attempting to run him over. Local residents, however, insisted that police had no justification to open fire and emphasized that Issa had no connection to the alleged reckless driver. Reports indicated that officers had been attempting to stop speeding vehicles and fired when one failed to comply.

Issa’s uncle, Riyad, recounted that the boy was simply walking home when he was shot. Despite showing signs of recovery—even walking with the aid of a medical device—he later developed complications and succumbed during surgery. Riyad stressed that the investigation should determine whether medical negligence contributed to his nephew’s death but maintained that, regardless, the police bore ultimate responsibility for the fatal chain of events. Issa’s death sparked grief and outrage in his community, highlighting ongoing tensions over police violence and accountability in Arab towns within Israel.