Omar Muhammad Saadeh Rabee

Their life

Omar Muhammad Saadeh Rabee, a 14-year-old Palestinian-American boy, was fatally shot by Israeli forces on June 23, 2024, in his hometown of Turmus Ayya, a village northeast of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank. The incident occurred during a military operation in which Israeli soldiers opened fire on three teenagers, killing Omar and seriously wounding two other 14-year-old Palestinian-American boys. While the Israeli military claimed the boys were throwing rocks at a nearby highway, Palestinian witnesses and local officials maintained the children were unarmed and posed no immediate threat. Omar's death highlighted the ongoing violence in the West Bank, where over 50 Palestinian children have been killed since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023. As a dual citizen, his case drew attention to the plight of Palestinian-Americans living under occupation, though no investigation or accountability followed his killing. Buried in Turmus Ayya, Omar became another tragic symbol of the disproportionate impact of military violence on Palestinian youth, particularly in communities with ties to the diaspora. His death underscored the broader patterns of lethal force used against minors in the West Bank, where clashes, raids, and settlement expansion continue to endanger civilian lives.

Omar was born in 2009 in Turmus Ayya, a Palestinian village with deep connections to America's Palestinian diaspora. The son of Muhammad Saadeh Rabee, a local businessman, and Amina Rabee, a schoolteacher, Omar grew up in a family that valued both their Palestinian heritage and American connections. Many of Turmus Ayya's residents, including numerous members of Omar's extended family, held U.S. citizenship through migration to states like Texas and Illinois.

Education and Personality:
A ninth-grade student at Turmus Ayya Secondary School, Omar was known for his love of soccer and basketball. Teachers described him as a bright but quiet student who particularly enjoyed science classes. His American cousins remember him as curious about life in the U.S., often asking about American sports and music during their annual summer visits.

The Fatal Incident (June 23, 2024):
On that Sunday afternoon, Omar went with two classmates to harvest figs from his family's orchard near Route 60. According to witness statements, Israeli soldiers stationed at a nearby checkpoint opened fire when the boys were approximately 300 meters from the highway. Medical reports indicate Omar was struck by two bullets - one piercing his lung and heart. Despite emergency treatment by Palestinian medics, he died within minutes.

Aftermath and Legacy:
Omar's funeral drew thousands of mourners from across the West Bank. His death became a flashpoint in U.S.-Palestinian relations when it was revealed all three boys shot that day held U.S. citizenship. The State Department issued a rare criticism of Israel's use of force, though no formal investigation resulted. In Turmus Ayya, a youth center now bears Omar's name, while his story has been cited in UN reports on children in armed conflict. His family continues to demand accountability through both U.S. congressional channels and the Palestinian Authority.

Historical Context:
Omar's death reflects the dangerous reality for Palestinian youth in the West Bank, where over 200 minors have been killed by Israeli forces since 2020. His dual citizenship highlighted the complex status of the Palestinian diaspora, particularly in American communities that maintain strong ties to ancestral villages. The incident occurred during the deadliest year of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict since 2005, with Turmus Ayya experiencing weekly military raids since 2023.

Personal Effects:
Among Omar's belongings returned to his family was a journal containing drawings of NBA stars and a half-completed application for a U.S. summer exchange program. These mundane artifacts became powerful symbols of a life cut short, displayed in memorial exhibitions in Ramallah and Palestinian cultural centers in the U.S.

How they died

killed by

Gunshot wounds inflicted by Israeli military forces during a confrontation in Turmus Ayya (occupied West Bank)

A plea from the family

The tragic death of Omar Saadeh Rabee on June 23, 2024, drew profound grief and calls for justice from his surviving family members. Omar's family, particularly his parents, Muhammad Saadeh Rabee and Amina Rabee, have been vocal in seeking accountability for his death. They have used both U.S. congressional channels and the Palestinian Authority to demand a formal investigation into the circumstances surrounding his killing. Omar's father, Muhammad Saadeh, in particular, expressed his sorrow and frustration, emphasizing that Omar's death was a consequence of Israel's use of excessive force, which tragically ended the life of his son, who was a U.S. citizen. The Saadeh family’s calls for justice also highlight the broader political and humanitarian implications, given that all three boys who were shot and killed that day held U.S. citizenship.

Why we remember them

This record exists so that Omar Muhammad Saadeh Rabee, and all who are named in this archive, are never reduced to a number.

References & sources