Mohammed Qaddous's back, showing an exit wound caused by live ammunition. Picture credit: Salma aDeb'i\B'Tselem

Qaddous was shot at 3pm this afternoon in the aftermath of a demonstration in the village of Iraq Burin protesting restrictions on access to their lands beneath the Jewish-only settlement of Har Brakha. At the same time, Ussayed Jamal Abd elNasser Qaddous, 17, was shot in the head with live ammunition and critically injured. They were both evacuated to a hospital in Nablus where Ussayed is currently being operated on.

MARCH 21st UPDATE: Ussayed Qaddous died of his wounds in the Rafidiya hospital in Nablus at 4:30am.

In contradiction to the Army's claim that no live ammunition was used during the event, Qaddus had entry and exit wounds in his torso. Less-lethal ammunition, rubber-coated bullets included, can, under no circumstances, cause such injuries, even if shot from point blank. Additionally, an Xray of Ussayed Qaddous's skull clearly shows a live bullet that entered his skull.

An Xray showing a live bullet inside Ussayed Qaddous's skull. Picture credit: Salma aDeb'i\B'Tselem

The demonstrators set out towards the village's lands after midday prayer, and were immediately confronted by soldiers who shot bursts of live ammunition in the air. The Army then continued to shoot tear-gas and rubber bullets towards the villagers in an attempt to prevent them from reaching their lands. Following the unprovoked attack on the villagers, who were accompanied by 15 international activists, intermittent clashes ensued.

Roughly two hours later, the Army retreated towards the settlement and demonstrators went back to the village. Shortly after, armored military jeeps invaded the village, arrested three people and raided houses. A few minutes later, live shots were fired at a small group of young men, some of which were throwing stones. The shots resulted in one fatality and one critical injury to the head.