On October 16, 2025, an 9-year-old Palestinian child, Mohammad Bahjat Al-Hallaq, was pronounced dead on Thursday evening after succumbing to wounds sustained earlier in the day when Israeli occupation forces opened fire in the village of Al-Rihiya, south of Hebron.

Israeli soldiers fired live bullets toward a group of children who were playing football in the yard of Al-Rihiya Girls Secondary School. The child was struck by a bullet that penetrated his pelvis.

Muhammed’s mother, Alia, was told by witnesses that the sniper had raised his arms in the air as if in celebration. He killed a nine-year-old boy, for playing soccer, for no reason.

The car carrying Mohammed’s wounded body to the hospital was delayed by the Israeli military, who after the shooting had put up roadblocks and fired tear gas grenades into the gathering crowd. Mohammed’s father, away at work, began receiving messages and images of his son. That 4 hour car ride, also extended due to Israel’s military roadblocks, “felt to him like four years,” Alia recounted. Muhammed died before his father could reach the hospital

Family followed Sharia burial customs, waiting for father to return to bury Muhammed in the family grave. Several weeks later, their younger siblings are traumatized: Her 4 year old son Ilyas clings to her skirts, constantly afraid that soldiers are going to come and hurt him. Seela, 6 years old and accustomed to her older brother waiting for up to two hours to walk her home, refuses to go to school. Mother frequently visits the family grave on a hillside visible from their home.

Muhammad Al-Hallaq was a fourth-grade student. He had spent the morning of his assassination at school and had returned “the happiest I had ever seen him” because he had just received a brand new backpack from UNRWA. Living in poverty since his father lost his job in Israel after October 7, receiving new things was rare and Muhammed had never received a new backpack before. Alia stated that he “immediately and excitedly began unpacking his old school bag and filling his new one.” Upon noticing the sadness of his older brother, Wajdee, who went to a different school and had not received a backpack, however, Muhammed rushed back to his school to try to get an extra one. He returned dejected, as his mission was not successful.

Alia holding Muhammed bag and his grandmother. Credit ISM.

Name of the martyr:

Mohammad Bahjat Al-Hallaq, 9 y/o

Defense for Children - Palestine investigation:

"On October 16, around 5:00 p.m., Mohammad was playing football along with several other young boys in the center of the village of Al-Rihiya, south of Hebron in the occupied West Bank. Two Israeli military jeeps entered the village, after which four Israeli soldiers exited the vehicles, spread out along the street, and began firing tear gas canisters and live bullets randomly and directly at the children. As Mohammad and the other children fled westward, one soldier took a kneeling position and fired a single live bullet that struck Mohammad. An older boy managed to pull Mohammad away and carry the injured Mohammad to his uncle’s house nearby. Mohammad was then taken in a private vehicle to Abu Al-Hasan Al-Qasim Hospital in Yatta, where he was later pronounced dead around 6:00 p.m.

As soon as the military vehicles arrived, the children fled westward between nearby houses to escape the soldiers. Mohammad was shot while standing on the roadside overlooking the soldiers’ position, near his uncle’s house, about 200 meters away from where the soldiers were stationed. He was shot in the right side of his pelvis, after which the bullet exited from his left side. Mohammad was able to take a few steps before falling to the ground when an additional tear gas canister was fired in his vicinity. A 17-year-old child came to carry Mohammad away when the soldiers fired two additional live bullets at them both. The boy managed to take Mohammad to his Uncle’s home, where he was then driven to the southern side of the village, fearing that soldiers might stop the car during transport.

After arriving at the Al-Fawwar refugee camp, south of Hebron, Mohammad was transferred to another vehicle and taken to Abu Al-Hasan Al-Qassem Hospital in Yatta. Upon arrival at the emergency department, doctors attempted to resuscitate his heart twice. Despite continuous efforts, the medical team was unable to save Mohammad."

Impunity:

The Israeli army falsely claimed the boy had been throwing rocks; they recanted their statement after footage from the many cameras placed around the village proved otherwise. Muhammad's family wants nothing more than to see the soldier who killed her son held accountable, but it will never happen. Israel has condemned the shooting of Alia’s son, saying it went against protocol, and has opened an investigation. Though they have the whole thing on camera, Isaac is certain the investigation will amount to nothing. Because, it never happens before.