A peaceful evening celebration turned into a nightmare for a Palestinian family in East Jerusalem, when Israeli snipers opened fire on a family gathering in the at-Tur neighborhood, leaving two young boys critically wounded. Among the victims was 12-year-old Iyas Abu Mufreh, who was shot in the shoulder just centimetres from his heart, narrowly escaping death. His cousin, 21-year-old Uday Abu Juma’, was shot in the stomach, with the bullet causing damage to his spine and internal organs.
The incident occurred on June 16, as the family celebrated the return of a grandmother from the Hajj pilgrimage and a young girl’s success in her national exams. Despite a backdrop of heightened tensions due to a 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran, the street was reportedly calm at the time. Without any warning, two snipers positioned on a rooftop about 500 metres away opened fire on the family as they sat near a car, eating pizza.
After the shooting, family members rushed the boys to the hospital, only to be stopped by Israeli police. Iyas’s father was detained, and authorities accused the boys of provoking the attack by allegedly throwing Molotov cocktails and fireworks, claims the family strongly denies. They say there was no provocation whatsoever from their side.
Medical staff found that both boys had been struck by expanding bullets, which cause maximum internal damage. These are prohibited in warfare under international law. The injuries were life-changing. Iyas’s shoulder was left with severe nerve and artery damage, and his family fears he may lose full use of his arm. Uday’s condition is even more grave, with doctors uncertain if he will ever walk again.
The day after the shooting, authorities cleared the area, removing bullet casings, shattered glass, and other evidence. Only a pizza box and a bullet hole remained, as silent reminders of the violence. Local residents said the scene was cleaned deliberately to erase any trace of what had occurred.
This shooting was part of a broader pattern of repression during the 12-day war. Israeli police had installed roadblocks in various East Jerusalem neighborhoods and conducted frequent raids. Residents described increased surveillance, arbitrary arrests, and restrictions on access to religious sites. Muslims and Christians alike were prevented from worshipping at key holy places, while Jewish religious sites remained open.
These heavy-handed measures, while framed as security precautions, have been viewed as attempts to control and suppress the Palestinian presence in the city. The Palestinian population in East Jerusalem is increasingly being treated not as civilians, but as a threat to be contained.
Back in the hospital, Iyas waits for his next surgery, his arm held together with screws, his once simple dreams—like playing pool and going back to school—now clouded by uncertainty and trauma. The physical wounds are deep, but the emotional scars may last even longer, as he and his family try to make sense of the violence that shattered their celebration.
