DCI/PS

	2010/05/26 Child (15) shot and killed by settler The following information is based on DCI-Palestine's investigations into Aysar's killing: On 13 May 2010 Aysar Z. (15) was shot in the head by a settler travelling along route 60 near Al Mazra’a ash Sharqiya, outside Ramallah. The day before, a group of settlers had gathered threateningly around the entrance to the village of Al Mazra’a ash Sharqiya, intimidating the residents. To express their rejection of the settler’s actions, Aysar (15) and his friends went to ‘Eyoun al-Haramiya to throw stones at settler cars travelling along route 60. A car with three settlers inside pulled over. One of them got out of the car and opened fire on the children. The boys ran away, terrified, only realizing Aysar was not with them when they reached the village. A group of local residents went back to ‘Eyoun al-Haramiya, where they found Aysar lying unconscious. Ten minutes after Aysar was admitted to hospital, he was pronounced dead. According to the doctor’s report he died instantly when the bullet lodged in his brain. From March 2008 to February 2010 DCI-Palestine has documented 37 separate incidents of settler violence in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, resulting in death or injury to Palestinians. These cases include 2 child fatalities, and 42 children injured. DCI-Palestine strongly condemns the killing with impunity of children by settlers and demands that such incidents receive a thorough and transparent investigation with charges that reflect the gravity of the crime. DCI-Palestine will soon be releasing a report featuring the stories of all the children directly injured or killed in settler or soldier assaults, documented by DCI-Palestine from March 2008-February 2010.