By: Zahran Maali
NABLUS, March 30, 2026 (WAFA) – Mohammad Saif Wasif Hanani, a 12-year-old boy from the town of Beit Furik, east of Nablus, did not anticipate that his return home would turn into a traumatic experience, after being violently assaulted by Israeli soldiers during a raid on the town two nights ago — a scene captured on residents’ cameras and widely circulated.
Hanani, a sixth-grade student, was visiting his uncle’s home when the raid took place, creating panic among residents who rushed to take shelter inside their houses. While he was returning home, soldiers intercepted him, ordering him to stop before attacking him with severe beatings, according to his grandfather, Wasif Hanani, in a WAFA interview.
“The people were fleeing the streets, and Mohammad was heading back to his father’s house. Suddenly, the soldiers shouted at him, then attacked and beat him,” the grandfather said, noting that a resident managed to record the assault on video.
The family was not present at the scene and learned of the incident through social media, where Mohammad appeared in the video being beaten and detained, leaving the family in a state of shock and deep anxiety over his fate.
Hours after his detention, Israeli forces released Mohammad at the Beit Furik military checkpoint with his hands bound. Signs of the assault were clearly visible, including bruising under his eyes and scattered marks on his body, alongside ongoing psychological distress, the grandfather confirmed.
Despite Israel announcing the formation of an investigative committee into the incident, the grandfather expressed little faith that the soldiers would be held accountable. “We do not expect any accountability. We have seen many cases of children being assaulted and nothing happened; the soldiers are above the law,” he said.
The incident comes amid repeated raids in Beit Furik, sometimes more than once a day, leaving lasting impacts on residents’ lives, particularly children, who live in a constant state of fear and instability.
Between home raids, confrontations, injuries, and detentions, families face harsh restrictions on their movements and threats to their safety, while childhood — as in Mohammad’s case — remains the most vulnerable victim in a cycle that continues without accountability.
This case is not isolated. Local and international human rights reports document a recurring pattern of violations against Palestinian children. According to organizations such as Defense for Children International – Palestine (DCIP), hundreds of Palestinian children are detained and prosecuted annually, with many subjected to ill-treatment, including beatings while being detained or while in detention, and denied access to their families or lawyers during questioning.
Human rights organizations also note that excessive use of force against children during raids and detentions continues amid a near-total absence of accountability.
T.R.
