Israel kill 17 year old with expanding bullet

17 year old Fadi Hamdallah Al-Nassan has succumbed to his injuries, a week after being shot by the Israel occupation forces (IOF) with an expanding bullet to his thigh, in the West Bank village of Al-Mughayyir.

Israel martyr Fadi al-Nassan

Al-Nassan was martyred as a result of a two day raid on al-Mughayyir, which took place on 10 and 11 July 2026. The occupation’s military stormed the village early on the Friday morning. They shot three Palestinians, and beat others. The army also raided the home of Mohammed Hamed Abu Alia and his family. That particular attack came north east of Al-Mughayyir, with Israel forces beating and injuring those inside, and firing live shots at those trying to help. According to the Palestinian Red Crescent, ‘Israeli’ forces also detained their ambulance crews for around two hours, and confiscated their keys while they were attempting to treat the wounded.

On Saturday 11 July the raids continued, and so did the attacks on the Abu Alia family home, which Israeli settlers, under the protection of the IOF, had attacked. Fadi Al-Nassan was one of those who rushed to help the family. According to his father, Hamdallah al-Nassan, Fadi heard women and girls screaming, and had run towards the scene. But the IOF directed live fire at anyone who tried to defend the house and, as a result, Al- Nassan was injured.

Injury by an illegal expanding bullet

A local doctor, who wanted to remain anonymous, told the Canary:

Multiple injuries were recorded those two days. Fadi was injured with an expanding bullet in his thigh, his femoral artery was shattered. Two others were shot- one had an entry exit gunshot wound to the flank, and another a bullet in the leg. Raed Abu Aliya was hit with a stun grenade at his face. He requires surgery as his upper jaw bone was fractured. The house owner, his brother and two sons were also injured, beaten by the soldiers.

Fadi Al-Nassan suffered severe blood loss, and was evacuated to hospital. The first hospital he reached had no vascular surgeon, so he was transferred to the Palestine Medical Complex in Ramallah, where he remained in a critical condition on life support. According to doctors this delay gravely affected his case.

While in hospital, his condition deteriorated sharply, and there were signs of severe sepsis from the bullet wound. In a desperate attempt to treat the sepsis and save Al-Nassan’s life, doctors amputated his leg. But he passed away just 24 hours later, on 18 July.

Israel terrorises Palestinians in mourning

Before the funeral procession, the IOF set up a checkpoint at the village’s western entrance. This was an attempt at preventing people from attending, but was unsuccessful.

However, the harassment and attacks continued after the funeral, and into the night.

Marzouk Abu Naim is head of Al-Mughayyir Village Council. He tells us:

After the funeral procession of martyr Fadi Nassan, Israeli settlers clashed with local residents, West of the village. A resident, Jihad Jamil, was injured by pepper spray and was transferred to the medical centre in neighbouring Abu Falah. That night, after his funeral, Israeli occupation forces raided the village, entering with military vehicles. They fired tear gas and stun grenades at the condolence gathering, searched several homes, and carried out an arrest campaign that included three teenagers, and four adults.

Fadi Al-Nassan, was an 11th-grade student, and played football for Al-Mughayyir Club. He was also a member of the Palestinian national youth team.

Over 1000 Palestinian athletes murdered

A friend of Al-Nassan says:

Fadi loved everyone and was so passionate about football. His dream was to become a professional football player. But the brutal violence of the Israeli occupation made this dream impossible.

Fadi Al-Nassan was the cousin of Aws Hamdi Al-Nassan. Aws was killed in April when illegal settler Schmuel Wendy opened fire at Al Mughayyir boy’s school.

According to the Palestinian Football Association, Fadi’s passing brings the number of martyrs from the Palestinian sports movement to 1013, since 7 October 2023. 568 of these were footballers.

Al-Nassan has become the seventh martyr in Al Mughayyir since October 2023, with four of these being children. A total of 17 young men have been martyred in the village since 2006. Their deaths are a direct result of attacks by the IOF or settlers. According to Abu Naim, all are young, and include eight under the age of 18.

He says:

Al-Nassan was shot with an expanding bullet. This made treatment much more difficult, and ultimately led to his death.

Special treatment of terrorists must stop

Expanding ammunition is banned globally, since 1899, and its use in any armed conflict is classified as a war crime. The bullets cause horrific injuries, with massive exit wounds. They expand in the body, destroy internal tissue, shatter bone, and rip apart internal organs. These bullets also leave metal fragments in the body that can cause serious infection, and treatment is extremely difficult.

The use of expanding bullets by the Israeli occupation against Palestinians has been documented by doctors and human rights organisations for years. In 2018, a report by Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor claimed their use by the IOF was:

deliberately aimed at complicating casualties and inflicting further harm on protesters leading to long-term pain and health issues amounting to permanent disabilities.

Systematic impunity, shielding from politicians around the world, and internal military investigations all add to the absence of accountability,when it comes to “Israel’s” systematic human rights abuses. This terrorist state will continue inflicting suffering on Palestinians in the occupied territory unless action is taken against it now.

Featured image via the Canary