Ra’fat Ali Ayasa
Fatally shot by Israeli soldiers while attempting to cross into occupied Jerusalem for work
Ra’fat Ali Ayasa was fatally shot by Israeli soldiers on November 9, 2022, while attempting to cross into occupied East Jerusalem through a breach in the Israeli Annexation Wall located west of Jenin. This wall is widely regarded as illegal under international law and severely restricts Palestinian movement and access to jobs.
On that day, Ra’fat, along with several other Palestinian laborers, tried to enter Jerusalem to reach their workplaces. As they approached the breach, Israeli soldiers opened fire without warning, targeting the group with live ammunition. While the others managed to escape, Ra’fat was hit by multiple live rounds.
After being shot, he was initially taken to the Salem military base by Israeli forces but was later handed over to Palestinian medical teams from the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS). He was rushed to Ar-Razi Hospital in Jenin but succumbed to his wounds and was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
Eyewitnesses and local officials described the shooting as an unprovoked attack on a non-combatant whose only intention was to work and provide for his family. Ra’fat’s death is seen by many Palestinians as part of a broader pattern of extrajudicial killings and excessive use of force by Israeli military personnel against civilians, particularly those attempting to cross barriers for livelihood amid ongoing occupation and restrictions.
Biography
Ra’fat Ali Ayasa was a 29-year-old Palestinian construction worker from the town of Sanur, southwest of Jenin in the occupied West Bank. A devoted husband and father to a young daughter, Ra’fat was not affiliated with any political party or group. He was simply striving to support his family under the harsh economic and political conditions imposed by the Israeli occupation. On November 9, 2022, he was shot and killed by Israeli soldiers while attempting to cross into occupied Jerusalem for work through a breach in the illegal Annexation Wall west of Jenin. Israeli forces opened fire on Ra’fat and a group of workers without warning; while others managed to escape, Ra’fat was struck by several live rounds. He was initially taken to a nearby Israeli military base before being handed over to Palestinian medics and rushed to Ar-Razi Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. His killing sparked widespread condemnation and large protests across Jenin and surrounding areas, with mourners describing his death as an execution of an unarmed laborer whose only aim was to provide for his family. Ra’fat’s story stands as a painful reminder of the everyday dangers faced by Palestinian civilians living under military occupation.
Early Life and Background:
Ra’fat Ali Ayasa was born and raised in Sanur, a small Palestinian town located southwest of Jenin in the northern West Bank. He was known to his community as a hardworking individual dedicated to providing for his family under difficult and restrictive socio-political conditions.
Personal Life:
Ra’fat was married and the father of a young daughter. According to his family, he had no political affiliations, and his sole focus was earning a living to support his wife and child. Like many Palestinians in the West Bank, he faced high unemployment and limited access to legal work permits, pushing him to attempt crossing into occupied East Jerusalem for construction work.
Incident and Death:
On the morning of November 9, 2022, Ra’fat attempted to cross through a breach in the illegal Israeli Annexation Wall near Salem, west of Jenin, alongside other Palestinian workers. As they approached the breach, Israeli soldiers opened fire without warning, hitting Ra’fat with multiple live rounds. The other workers managed to flee the scene.
After being shot, Ra’fat was taken by Israeli forces to Salem military base before being handed over to Palestinian Red Crescent medics. Despite emergency efforts, he died en route to Ar-Razi Hospital in Jenin.
Public Response:
His killing sparked widespread outrage and protests across Jenin, the Jenin refugee camp, Sanur, and other neighboring areas. Thousands of Palestinians took to the streets, denouncing what many described as an execution-style killing of a man simply trying to work and support his family.
Demonstrations also occurred in front of Khalil Suleiman Governmental Hospital, where mourners condemned escalating Israeli military violence against Palestinian civilians, especially laborers and non-combatants.
Legacy:
Ra’fat's death became symbolic of the daily risks faced by Palestinian workers under occupation. His story highlighted the struggles of thousands who, in the absence of permits and economic opportunity, are forced to risk their lives to provide for their families.
Additional Information
Sources & References
Ra’fat Ali Ayasa, 29, was shot and killed by Israeli soldiers while attempting to cross the Annexation Wall to reach his workplace, west of Jenin in the northern occupied West Bank. The Palestinian Health Ministry confirmed that Ra’fat, a resident of Sanur town southwest of Jenin, was fatally wounded by live fire from Israeli forces. Mahmoud Saadi, head of the Emergency Department at the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) in Jenin, reported that Ra’fat was struck by multiple live rounds. Ra’fat, a construction worker, was trying to enter occupied Jerusalem for work through a breach in the illegal Annexation Wall when soldiers opened fire, targeting him and several other workers. While others managed to flee, Ra’fat was critically injured and later died.1 israelpalestinetimeline.org Open source