The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations today announced that all three teenagers who were shot in the occupied West Bank on April 6 are U.S. citizens. One teenager is dead, another remains hospitalized in critical condition, and the third is in good condition.
READ: Family of 14-year-old from N.J. wants answers as to why Israeli soldiers shot him dead
Amer Mohammed Saada Rabee —a 14-year-old boy formerly of Saddle Brook, New Jersey— was fatally
shot on April 6 by the Israeli military. Amer was shot 11 times, according to his father Mohammed Rabee, who cited an autopsy report.
Ayub Igbara —a 14-year-old boy born in Little Ferry, New Jersey— was shot three times by the Israeli military, according to his uncle Najee Ijbara. He remained hospitalized in critical condition Tuesday awaiting another surgery in Ramallah.
Abdelrahman (also known as Abed) Shehada, of Georgia, was also shot by Israeli forces and was in good condition Tuesday.
“Amer Rabee’s killers must be held accountable. We call on Congress members to speak up and demand an investigation that leads to justice in the senseless killing of Amer, an American boy who also happens to be Palestinian. America is not only supplying the weapons that kill Americans abroad, it is aiding and abetting Israel’s utter impunity in war crimes and human rights violations,” said CAIR-New Jersey Executive Director Selaedin Maksut.
CAIR-New Jersey representatives attended a press conference Tuesday held by the Palestinian American Community Center in Clifton detailing the shooting. Amer is the nephew of Rami Jbara, who serves as a board member for the prominent organization.
How the shooting unfolded
The three teenage boys were playing in an orchard, attempting to pick green almonds from trees when Israeli shots rang out at approximately 6:40 p.m. local time on April 6 in the occupied West Bank town of Turmus Aya in Palestine.
Ayub and Abed were able to flee the scene after the Israeli military shot them. However, Amer was shot nearly a dozen times and died at the scene.
“We fled before they finished us off,” Ayub said during a Tuesday phone call with his uncle, Najee Ijbara, while CAIR-New Jersey was present.
During the phone call Tuesday, Ayub said he bled severely – requiring as many as 16 pints of blood – as he and Abdelrahman made their way to a hospital in an ambulance. The vehicle held up at an Israeli checkpoint for about 30 minutes while the pair required immediate medical attention.
Ayub underwent a six-hour surgery and is planned to undergo another procedure this week.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
CONTACT: CAIR-NJ Communications Manager Aya Elamroussi, 551-208-5482, aelamroussi@cair.com