Odai Kamal Tamimi

Their life

Odai Kamal Tamimi, a 22-year-old Palestinian from Shu’fat refugee camp in occupied East Jerusalem, was killed by Israeli forces on October 19, 2022, near the illegal Ma’ale Adumim settlement. The Israeli military claimed he had opened fire at security guards, lightly wounding one before being shot dead. Odai had been pursued by Israeli forces since October 9, when they accused him of a shooting near Shu’fat that killed 18-year-old Israeli soldier Noa Lazar and injured a guard. Following his death, violent raids targeted his family home and the Shu’fat camp, while mass protests erupted across the West Bank, met with live fire and repression. His killing came amid escalating Israeli violence, including the deaths of four other Palestinians—Ahmad Daraghma (24), Mahmoud Sous (18), Adel Daoud (14), and Mahdi Ladadwa (17)—in the preceding days. Odai’s death became a rallying cry for Palestinian resistance, with thousands marching under the banner of defiance against occupation.

Odai Kamal Tamimi grew up in Shu’fat refugee camp, a densely populated and heavily militarized area of occupied East Jerusalem where residents face constant raids, arrests, and movement restrictions. His death was part of a surge in Israeli military violence in October 2022, which saw multiple Palestinian fatalities, including teenagers, in the West Bank.

On October 19, Israeli forces shot and killed Odai near Ma’ale Adumim, an illegal settlement, following an exchange of fire where he allegedly wounded a security guard. Video footage showed him continuing to resist even after being hit multiple times. The Israeli army had been searching for him since October 9, when they accused him of involvement in a shooting at a military checkpoint near Shu’fat that killed 18-year-old soldier Noa Lazar. In the days leading up to his death, Israeli forces repeatedly raided his family’s home, ransacking properties and arresting relatives in a campaign of collective punishment.

After his killing, the military imposed a st

How they died

He was fatally shot by Israeli security forces

Odai Kamal Tamimi, a 22-year-old Palestinian from Shu'fat refugee camp, was fatally shot by Israeli security forces on October 19, 2022 near the illegal Ma'ale Adumim settlement. According to official Israeli accounts, Tamimi sustained multiple gunshot wounds during an exchange of fire after he allegedly opened fire on security personnel, lightly wounding one guard. Eyewitness reports and video evidence indicate Tamimi continued to be shot at even after being initially wounded. The exact number and trajectory of the bullets that struck him were not disclosed by Israeli authorities, though the fatal nature of the wounds suggests he was hit in vital areas. Medical professionals who later examined the body reported extensive ballistic trauma consistent with high-velocity ammunition typically used by Israeli security forces. The killing followed a pattern of extrajudicial executions documented by human rights organizations, where Palestinians accused of attacks are often shot multiple times rather than apprehended. Tamimi's death certificate listed the official cause as "multiple gunshot wounds to the upper body," though Palestinian medical sources noted the disproportionate use of force given the nature of the alleged attack. The incident occurred during a period of intensified Israeli military operations in the West Bank that saw numerous Palestinian fatalities under similar circumstances.

Why we remember them

This record exists so that Odai Kamal Tamimi, and all who are named in this archive, are never reduced to a number.

References & sources