Shocking CCTV Footage Shows 80-Year-Old Palestinian Woman Shot in IDF Raid

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On December 19, an 80-year-old Palestinian grandmother, Halima Abu Leil, was shot multiple times during an Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) raid in the Balata refugee camp of Nablus, West Bank. Newly released CCTV footage analyzed by Sky News shows the moments leading up to her shooting, during which she was reportedly on her way to purchase groceries.

According to her children, Halima was shot six times by Israeli special forces, with injuries to her legs and chest. Despite showing clear signs of being an elderly and unarmed woman, eyewitness reports suggest that the IDF acted ruthlessly.

The footage reveals that a van marked as an ambulance was used during the IDF operation, raising concerns about a potential violation of international law. Francesca Albanese, a UN Special Rapporteur, noted the shocking lack of precautions taken to protect civilian life in the footage, describing the incident as a possible war crime.

The IDF has stated that it conducts operations in line with international law and confirmed that an investigation into the incident is underway. However, the shooting of civilians not posing an imminent threat has been condemned by the United Nations Office of Human Rights as unlawful.

Since October 7, 2023, Israeli security forces and settlers have reportedly killed over 800 mostly unarmed Palestinians, prompting calls for an independent investigation into these incidents.

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