Karim Jamal al-Qawasmi
Karim was shot and killed by Israeli soldiers after allegedly stabbing a police officer.
Karim Jamal al-Qawasmi was shot by Israeli soldiers and police near Bab Hutta gate in East Jerusalem after an incident in which he allegedly stabbed a police officer. The officer was reportedly only mildly injured. Following the shooting, Karim was left wounded without receiving immediate medical aid, which contributed to his death. The circumstances surrounding the event remain contested, but official reports emphasize a stabbing followed by police use of lethal force.
Biography
Karim Jamal al-Qawasmi was a 19-year-old Palestinian from the at-Tour neighborhood in occupied East Jerusalem. He was a former political prisoner, having served 18 months in Israeli detention during his teenage years.
Karim Jamal al-Qawasmi lived in the at-Tour neighborhood of occupied East Jerusalem, a Palestinian area heavily affected by Israeli military presence and restrictions. As a young Palestinian, Karim experienced the realities of occupation firsthand, including a previous imprisonment during his teenage years for 18 months.
On March 6, 2022, near Bab Hutta gate north of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Karim was involved in an altercation with Israeli police. Israeli authorities stated that he stabbed an officer, who was mildly injured, and that in response Karim was shot by police and soldiers. Following the shooting, Karim was left bleeding without medical assistance and later died from his wounds.
After his death, Israeli forces raided his family home, inflicting heavy property damage and arresting his father, mother, and brother, a practice often used as collective punishment in occupied Palestinian areas.
Karim’s killing took place amid heightened tensions in Jerusalem, especially around the Al-Aqsa Mosque, an area frequently witnessing clashes between Palestinians and Israeli security forces.
Additional Information
Sources & References
Karim Jamal al-Qawasmi, 19, was killed by Israeli soldiers near Bab Hutta gate, north of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, in the occupied capital Jerusalem, in the West Bank. The soldiers shot the young man and left him bleeding without first aid until he succumbed to his wounds. The soldiers fired a barrage of live fire at the young men before closing the entire area, including all gates leading to Al-Aqsa. Israeli daily Haaretz said the Palestinian approached the officers, pulled out a knife, and stabbed one of them. Other officers at the scene opened fire at the attacker in response.1 israelpalestinetimeline.org Open source