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Warning: This article contains graphic descriptions of violence.
Twelve-year-old survives as family gunned down in car
Khaled Bani Odeh, 12, believed he was the sole survivor after Israeli forces opened fire on his family's vehicle in the occupied West Bank early Saturday, killing his parents and two young brothers. The incident occurred near the village of Tammun, close to Tubas, as the family returned from a shopping trip in Nablus.
Eyewitness contradicts Israeli military account
The Israeli army claimed soldiers fired after the car "accelerated toward the forces," perceiving a threat. However, a resident who witnessed the shooting from his home told The Meta Times the vehicle had come to a complete stop before any shots were fired. The witness, whose identity is being protected, said no warnings or warning shots preceded the gunfire.
"The firing directly targeted the car. I just heard the woman in the car screaming. The little kids were crying before they were killed."
Anonymous resident
The Israeli army stated the incident was under investigation by "relevant authorities" but did not respond to questions about the car being stationary when fired upon. A query to police remains unanswered.
Graphic details emerge from the scene
Khaled described his mother's final cry and his father reciting the Shahada, the Islamic declaration of faith, as they died. His seven-year-old brother Othman, who was blind and disabled, was killed while sitting on his mother's lap. Another brother, eight-year-old Mustafa, survived with shrapnel injuries to his face from shattered glass, requiring surgery.
Paramedic Hassan Fuqoha, who arrived at the scene, said the attack was unlike any he had witnessed. "Both parents and one child had parts of their heads blown off," he said. "There were bullet casings everywhere-more than 50-fired directly at the car. It was not normal." Residents collected the casings and turned them over to authorities.
Family's final hours before the attack
The Bani Odeh family had spent the evening shopping and dining in Nablus ahead of Eid al-Fitr. Ali Bani Odeh, 37, had recently returned home after six weeks working in Israel, and his sons had pleaded for the outing. The family was minutes from their home in Tammun when the shooting occurred.
Grandmother Najah Bani Odeh said the children were singing in the car and that the family was unaware of any military operation in the area. "Mohammed, who was in kindergarten, was sitting between his parents when they were shot," she said. "He fell into Mustafa's lap, covering him in blood."
Political fallout and broader context
Yair Lapid, leader of Israel's opposition party Yesh Atid, criticized the government for failing to apologize to the family. "A seven-year-old boy with special needs should not die in the wars of adults," he said.
The killings have reignited debate over Israel's use of lethal force against Palestinians in the West Bank. Najah Bani Odeh linked the incident to escalating violence since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel, citing settler rampages and land seizures. "They fire at will at anyone approaching," she said.
According to the UN's humanitarian affairs office (OCHA), 1,071 Palestinians, including 233 children, have been killed in the West Bank between October 7, 2023, and March 15, 2026. During the same period, 19 Israeli civilians and 23 security personnel died in the territory.
