Family of Palestinian American teen shot by Israeli forces in West Bank calls for justice
Family members of
a Palestinian American teenager killed in the West Bank
spoke out Tuesday in New Jersey.
Amer Rabee, a 14-year-old United States citizen who grew up in Saddle Brook, was shot and killed Sunday by Israeli forces. His family moved to Turmus Ayya, in the central West Bank, in 2013.
Amer's uncle, Rami Jbara, spoke at Clifton's Palestinian American Community Center, while Amer's father spoke virtually from the West Bank.
"What was done was murder," Jbara said. "A killing of a child."
"He had 11 shots. Two in his stomach, one in his leg, and two to his hand and two in his heart," father Mohammed Rabee said.
Rabee described his son as a straight A eighth grader who loved being with his friends.
"He got many friends here in Turmus Ayya, and everyone is crying here," he said.
The Israeli military released a video allegedly showing the shooting.
The Israel Defense Forces said in a statement that IDF soldiers had "identified three terrorists who hurled rocks toward the highway, thus endangering civilians driving. The soldiers opened fire towards the terrorists who were endangering civilians, eliminating one terrorist and hitting two additional terrorists."
"The video is black and white. It's not clear. No one can tell me that is my son," Rabee said.
"Even if he did it, you can do many different ways to stop that," Rabee said.
The family says they picked out the sound of more than 40 gunshots in security camera audio of the incident, saying the two other teens injured are also Palestinian Americans.
Tammy Bruce, with the State Department, said, "There is an investigation that is going on. We are aware of the reports from the IDF that this was a counterterrorism act. We need to learn more about the nature of what happened on the ground."
"I would beg the Israeli authorities to be as transparent as they can be in terms of the details on how this happened," New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said.
Rabee father says the one thing he and his family are praying for is peace in the region.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
38 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Greta Thunberg Says She Has Been Kidnapped by Israeli Forces-What We Know
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Israeli forces intercepted a Gaza-bound aid vessel on Monday and detained its passengers, including climate activist Greta Thunberg, amid ongoing restrictions on access to the Palestinian territory. Why It Matters The civilian vessel, named Madleen and operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), was stopped in international waters. The Israeli military stated that the interception was part of enforcement measures related to its longstanding naval blockade of Gaza. The FFC said the group was attempting to deliver humanitarian aid, including food, baby formula and medical supplies. According to Israel's Foreign Ministry, the Madleen was redirected to the Israeli port of Ashdod, and the passengers would be returned to their countries of origin. The ministry released a video showing the activists wearing life vests and receiving food and water. In a statement posted online, it described the ship as a "selfie yacht" and said the aid would be transferred to Gaza through established procedures. Greta Thunberg meets with journalists in Catania, Italy on June 1, 2025, ahead of departure to Gaza. Greta Thunberg meets with journalists in Catania, Italy on June 1, 2025, ahead of departure to Gaza. /Salvatore Cavalli/AP Photo What To Know In a pre-recorded video released by the FFC, Thunberg said: "If you see this video, we have been intercepted and kidnapped in international waters by the Israeli occupational forces, or forces that support Israel." The FFC had advised participants to prepare for interception and recorded messages in advance. SOS! the volunteers on 'Madleen' have been kidnapped by Israeli forces. Greta Thunberg is a Swedish citizen. Pressure their foreign ministries and help us keep them safe! Web: X : @SweMFA FB : @SweMFA IG : swedishmfa#AllEyesOnMadeleen — Freedom Flotilla Coalition (@GazaFFlotilla) June 9, 2025 The Israeli government stated that unauthorized attempts to breach the blockade are "unlawful" and "undermine ongoing humanitarian efforts." Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said he instructed the Israel Defense Forces to prevent the Madleen from reaching Gaza and that the passengers would be shown a video of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks upon their arrival in Israel. Israel and Egypt have maintained a blockade of Gaza since 2007, following the takeover of the territory by Hamas. Israel says the restrictions are aimed at preventing the import of weapons and materials used by militant groups; and that all passengers "are safe and unharmed." Hamas, which governs Gaza, called the interception "a flagrant violation of international law" and said the activists were "civilian volunteers acting out of humanitarian motives." The group has demanded their immediate release and called on the United Nations and other international organizations to intervene. All the passengers of the 'selfie yacht' are safe and unharmed. They were provided with sandwiches and water. The show is over. — Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) June 9, 2025 The United Nations has raised concerns about the humanitarian situation in Gaza, where more than 2 million people reside. A UN-backed assessment warned in April 2025 that one in five residents faced starvation. The Gaza Health Ministry reports more than 54,000 fatalities in the territory since the conflict escalated in October 2023. Israel's campaign followed a Hamas-led attack in which 1,200 people were killed and over 250 were taken hostage, according to Israeli authorities. The FFC, founded in 2010, has organized multiple attempts to challenge the blockade. Last month, another vessel in its fleet, the Conscience, was damaged in what the group alleged was a drone strike off the coast of Malta. The Israeli military did not comment on that incident. The Madleen had departed Sicily on June 1. What Happens Next? Israeli authorities have indicated that the detained activists will be processed and repatriated. As of Monday, they were being transported to Ashdod.
Yahoo
40 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Israeli forces halt aid boat carrying Greta Thunberg
Israeli troops have intercepted a ship trying to bring humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip and have detained activists onboard, including Greta Thunberg. Ms Thunberg spoke to ITV News before the interception, saying she anticipated the move from Israeli forces. .
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
Israeli forces seize Gaza aid boat carrying Greta Thunberg, officials say
Israeli forces seize Gaza aid boat carrying Greta Thunberg, officials say Show Caption Hide Caption Climate activist Greta Thunberg sets sail for Gaza to deliver aid "We have to keep trying." Climate activist Greta Thunberg set sail to deliver aid to Gaza just weeks after a similar mission was thwarted by bombs. JERUSALEM, June 9 (Reuters) - Israeli forces have taken command of a charity vessel that had tried to break a naval blockade of the Gaza Strip and the boat with its crew of 12 including activist Greta Thunberg is now heading to a port in Israel, officials said on Sunday. The British-flagged yacht Madleen, which is operated by the pro-Palestinian Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), was aiming to deliver a symbolic amount of aid to Gaza later on Monday and raise international awareness of the humanitarian crisis there. However, the boat was boarded during the night before it could reach shore, the FFC said on its Telegram account. The Israeli Foreign Ministry later confirmed that it was under Israeli control. More: US vetoes UN Security Council demand for Gaza ceasefire "The 'selfie yacht' of the 'celebrities' is safely making its way to the shores of Israel. The passengers are expected to return to their home countries," the ministry wrote on X. All passengers were safe and unharmed, the ministry later added. "They were provided with sandwiches and water. The show is over." Among the 12-strong crew are Swedish climate campaigner Thunberg and Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament. "The crew of the Freedom Flotilla was arrested by the Israeli army in international waters around 2 a.m.," Hassan posted on X. A photograph showed the crew seated on the boat, all wearing life jackets, with their hands in the air. More: Greta Thunberg sailing to Gaza on aid ship after drone attack setback The yacht is carrying a small shipment of humanitarian aid, including rice and baby formula. The Foreign Ministry said it would be taken to Gaza. "The tiny amount of aid that was on the yacht and not consumed by the 'celebrities' will be transferred to Gaza through real humanitarian channels," it wrote. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz ordered the military on Sunday to prevent the Madleen from reaching Gaza, calling the mission a propaganda effort in support of Hamas. Israel imposed a naval blockade on the coastal enclave after Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007. The blockade has remained in place through multiple conflicts, including the current war, which began after a Hamas-led assault on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, that killed more than 1,200 people, according to an Israeli tally. Gaza's health ministry says over 54,000 Palestinians have been killed since the start of Israel's military campaign. The United Nations has warned that most of Gaza's more than 2 million residents are facing famine. The Israeli government says the blockade is essential to prevent weapons from reaching Hamas. The United Nations' special rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, has supported the FFC operation and on Sunday, urged other boats to challenge the Gaza blockade. "Madleen's journey may have ended, but the mission isn't over. Every Mediterranean port must send boats with aid & solidarity to Gaza," she wrote on X. (Reporting by Crispian Balmer, Yomna Ehab and Enas Alashray; Editing by Richard Chang and Lincoln Feast.)
