EU urges ‘swift’ probe after Israel martyrs Palestinian teen

The European Union has called for a swift probe into the Israeli army's gruesome assassination of a 14-year-old Palestinian during protests against the occupying regime.

The 27-nation bloc’s delegation to the Israeli-occupied West Bank issued the request in a tweet on Saturday.

“Extending our heartfelt condolences to Ali [Abu Alia]'s parents and family. This shocking incident must be swiftly and fully investigated by the Israeli authorities in order to bring the perpetrators to justice,” it said.

“Children enjoy special protection under international law. How many more Palestinian children will be subject to the excessive use of lethal force by the Israeli security forces?” the delegation asked.

Ali was shot in the stomach during a protest against Israeli occupation in the al-Mughayyir village near the West Bank city of Ramallah on Friday.

He was taken to hospital in Ramallah, but succumbed to his injuries.

The United Nations’ West Asia Envoy, Nickolay Mladenov, also said he was appalled by the assassination.

“Israel must swiftly and independently investigate this shocking and unacceptable incident,” he tweeted.

Israel occupied the West Bank in a war that it launched against Arab countries in 1967. Ever since, it has been dotting the territory with illegal settlements.

The illegal structures have, by now, come to house more than 450,000 settlers against the West Bank’s 2.8-million-plus Palestinian population.

ME