Mohammad Shawkat Salima

Their life

Mohammad Shawkat Salima was a 25-year-old Palestinian man from the city of Salfit in the central West Bank. He grew up under the daily pressures and restrictions of Israeli military occupation, which shaped much of his environment and reality. On December 4, 2021, Mohammad was fatally shot by Israeli soldiers at the al-Misrara junction near Bab al-Amoud (Damascus Gate) in occupied East Jerusalem after he stabbed an Israeli settler. While initial reports indicated he was shot while attacking, video evidence and human rights groups later revealed that he was shot again and killed while lying immobilized on the ground—raising allegations of extrajudicial execution. His death sparked widespread protests across Jerusalem, Salfit, and other parts of the West Bank, and became another symbol of the deep tensions and recurring violence in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Mohammad Shawkat Salima was a 25-year-old Palestinian man from the city of Salfit, located in the central West Bank. Salfit, a town surrounded by Israeli settlements, has long been a flashpoint in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Like many young Palestinians, Mohammad grew up under occupation, navigating the daily struggles and restrictions that characterize life in much of the West Bank. His background and personal life details remain limited in public records, but his death on December 4, 2021, became a focal point for Palestinian outrage and international human rights concerns.

Mohammad was shot and killed by Israeli forces in the Bab al-Amoud area (Damascus Gate) in occupied East Jerusalem after he stabbed and moderately wounded an Israeli settler. Eyewitnesses and human rights organizations reported that after Mohammad was initially shot and immobilized on the ground, a second fatal bullet was fired at close range, raising serious concerns of an extrajudicial execution. Video footage of the event was circulated widely, fueling protests across Jerusalem, Salfit, and other West Bank cities. His death also led to violent confrontations between Israeli forces and Palestinian civilians, resulting in multiple injuries and arrests.

How they died

Mohammad Shawkat Salima was shot and killed by Israeli soldiers following a stabbing incident in Jerusalem

Mohammad died after being shot multiple times by Israeli forces at the al-Misrara junction near Bab al-Amoud (Damascus Gate) in occupied East Jerusalem. According to multiple sources, including human rights organizations and eyewitness video, Mohammad was first shot and incapacitated. While lying on the ground and no longer posing an immediate threat, he was shot again at close range, a final round that proved fatal. This second shot has been widely criticized as an act of extrajudicial killing, as he was already neutralized. The Israeli authorities justified the shooting as a necessary response to a stabbing attack that left one Israeli settler moderately injured and included an alleged attempt by Mohammad to attack police officers.

Why we remember them

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

References & sources