Mahmoud al-Sa’di

Their life

Mahmoud Abdel Jalil Hadi al-Sa’di, a 17-year-old Palestinian youth educator and drama instructor at the Jenin Freedom Theatre, was shot and killed by Israeli forces on November 21, 2022, during a military raid in the al-Hadaf neighborhood, adjacent to the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank. Eyewitnesses reported that Mahmoud was on his way to school and was not participating in any confrontations when he was fatally shot in the abdomen.

Mahmoud Abdel Jalil Hadi al-Sa’di, a 17-year-old Palestinian youth educator and drama instructor at the Jenin Freedom Theatre, was shot and killed by Israeli forces on November 21, 2022, during a military raid in the al-Hadaf neighborhood, adjacent to the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank. Eyewitnesses reported that Mahmoud was on his way to school and was not participating in any confrontations when he was fatally shot in the abdomen.

Mahmoud was known for his passion for theater and his work with children, teaching self-expression and drama through the Freedom Theatre’s Child & Youth Program. His colleagues described him as a hopeful and inspiring figure who brought creativity to young people in Jenin. His death sparked outrage and renewed calls for accountability for Israeli military actions in Palestinian territories.

How they died

He was shot and killed by Israeli forces

Mahmoud al-Sa’di’s death was the direct result of a live bullet fired by Israeli forces, which struck him in the abdomen during their raid on Jenin. Medical reports from Bin Sinai Hospital confirmed that the gunshot caused severe internal injuries, leading to massive blood loss. Despite emergency treatment, the damage was too extensive, and he succumbed to his wounds within hours. Witnesses and human rights investigators emphasized that Mahmoud was shot while walking near al-Kina intersection—an area where Israeli troops had opened fire indiscriminately during the operation. The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) noted that the lethal force used against him was unjustified, as he posed no threat to the soldiers. His killing reflects Israel’s repeated use of disproportionate violence in civilian areas, where unarmed Palestinians, including minors, are frequently targeted with deadly consequences.

Why we remember them

This record exists so that Mahmoud al-Sa’di, and all who are named in this archive, are never reduced to a number.

References & sources