Ref: 29/2012
Date: 07 March 2012
Time: 09: 30 GMT

On Tuesday afternoon, 06 March 2012, two Palestinian children were killed and three others civilians were wounded when a suspicious object left by the Israeli military exploded in Wad Al-Reem area to the east of Sa’ir village, northeast of Hebron.

According to investigations conducted by the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR), at approximately 14:30 on Tuesday, 06 March 2012, a number of children were in a yard close to their houses in al-Reem area and used for placing wastes collected from the surrounding areas. In the meanwhile, a suspicious object in the yard exploded and caused a very loud sound. This explosion resulted in the deaths of two children:

1. Hamza Mohammed Zayed Jaradat, 12; and
2. Zayed Jumaa Zayed Jaradat, 12.

In addition, another three Palestinians, including a child, sustained moderate and serious shrapnel wounds. The wounded were evacuated by ambulances from the Palestinian Red Crescent Society to Hebron Public Hospital. Later on the same day, two of the wounded were referred to al-Ahli Hospital in Hebron for surgeries and medical treatment. The wounded are:

1. Hesham Zayed Jaradat, 20, who sustained shrapnel wounds in the back of the neck and the back of the right thigh.
2. Yasser Mohammed Zayed Jaradat, 18, (a brother of Hamza, who was killed in the incident) who sustained shrapnel wounds in the left side of the chest and in the legs.
3. Nazir Jumaa Zayed Jaradat, 16, (a brother of Zayed, who was killed in the incident), who sustained shrapnel wounds in the back of the neck and in the right thigh.

According to medical reports and observation by a PCHR fieldworker, the two children who were killed sustained serious injuries and burns throughout the body. Their bodies were dismembered as the shrapnel penetrated the head, the chest and the face.

Immediately following the incident, the Palestinian police opened investigations into the incident. The police announced that the explosion was caused by a mortar shell which had been left by the Israeli military. The shell exploded in a pile of wastes. At approximately 15:20 on the same day, Israeli occupation forces moved into the area to check the explosion and search neighboring farms.

PCHR points with grave concern to the deaths and injuries of dozens of Palestinian civilians due to the explosions of suspicious objects. PCHR holds the Israeli occupation forces responsible for casualties among Palestinians in similar incidents. PCHR calls upon Palestinians not to play with suspicious objects as these objects may endanger their lives and property, and to immediately inform competent authorities about the existence of any suspicious objects.