In a tragic incident in the occupied West Bank city of Qalqilya, 14-year-old Faris Abu Samra was shot and killed by Israeli forces during an incursion. Described by his father as "a man in every sense of the word," Faris had taken on the responsibility of helping his family financially by helping his father sell fruit. He even insisted on stopping school to contribute. With Faris's help, the family managed to purchase a plot of land nearby.

The shooting of Faris comes amidst a surge of Israeli attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank. The number of Palestinians killed by Israeli soldiers this year has reached 202, with at least 37 of them being children.

These alarming figures indicate that 2023 is on track to be the deadliest year for Palestinians in the West Bank since 2005, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. Faris's death has left his family devastated.

His sister, Fatima, could not stop repeating his name during his funeral procession. The heartbreaking news was delivered to her through a video that showed her brother being resuscitated by paramedics after being shot. Fatima's mother, Samia, recalled that Faris had left the house to bring food for the family in preparation for their fast.

However, Faris never returned. Faris was not just loved by his family, but by everyone who knew him. His uncle described him as someone who had "an appetite for life" and had visited the Qalqilya Zoo just before the Israeli soldiers entered the city. Faris did not want to die, but he was killed in cold blood.

This incident is not isolated, as Israeli forces have been known to shoot children during incursions into Palestinian towns and cities. Last month, another tragic incident took place when two-and-a-half-year-old Mohammed al-Tamimi was shot in the head with live ammunition and later died in a Tel Aviv hospital.

The abuse of Palestinian children extends beyond physical violence, as a recent report by Save the Children revealed the emotional and physical abuse they endure while in Israeli detention. The killing of Faris Abu Samra highlights the urgent need for an end to the violence and for justice for all Palestinian children who have lost their lives.

The international community must condemn these attacks and work towards a peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.