Occupied East Jerusalem – A joyous family gathering in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of at-Tur turned into a scene of horror on the night of June 16, when Israeli snipers opened fire, seriously wounding 12-year-old Iyas Abu Mufreh and his cousin, 21-year-old Uday Abu Juma’.
The extended Abu Juma’ family had gathered outside their home to celebrate two special events: the return of their grandmother from Hajj and the academic success of a relative who had excelled in the national tawjihi exams. The peaceful celebration quickly descended into chaos as bullets tore through the night air.
According to eyewitnesses and reviewed security footage, two Israeli snipers positioned on a rooftop approximately 500 meters away fired without provocation, striking the two young men as they sat near a car eating pizza.
Iyas was hit just centimetres from his heart, the bullet tearing through his shoulder and requiring emergency surgery. A harrowing image shows the boy in his hospital bed in Jerusalem, surrounded by his mother, Nisreen, and older brother, Amir. Uday also sustained serious injuries.
The only physical evidence left at the scene after authorities swept the area the following day was a pizza box and a bullet hole on al-Hardoub Street.
“There was no threat, no warning, nothing,” said Nisreen, expressing disbelief over the sudden, unprovoked violence. “Everyone was in shock. We didn’t know what was happening.”
Israeli authorities had earlier placed roadblocks at the two main entrances into at-Tur at the start of the brief 12-day war with Iran that began on June 13. Yet according to the family and neighbours, there was no unrest or confrontation in the area that night to justify the use of lethal force.
The incident has drawn outrage from human rights advocates, who have condemned the shooting of civilians in a non-combat setting. As of now, Israeli military officials have not publicly commented on the sniper attack.
The family is now demanding accountability and justice for what they describe as an unprovoked act of violence against innocent civilians, raising renewed concerns over the conduct of Israeli forces in occupied East Jerusalem.
