Ramallah: Nine Palestinian children have been killed by Israeli occupation forces in the West Bank since the start of 2014. All were killed as a result of live ammunition used by armed forces.

None of the soldiers involved have been charged over the incidents.

Live ammunition is meant to be used “under circumstances of real mortal danger” according to the Israeli army’s regulations. Nonetheless, soldiers often ignore these regulations and research by Defence for Children International-Palestine and the Israeli human rights group B’Tselem claim they are not enforced by the soldiers’ superiors.

In the most recent incident, a 12-year-old boy was killed after being shot in the chest on Thursday evening in Beit Liqya in the West Bank.

Baha Al Deen Samir Bader was killed during a clash between Israeli soldiers and local youths which occurred after three Israeli military jeeps entered Beit Liqya at around 5pm on Thursday afternoon.

The 12-year-old was not part of the confrontation. Rather, a witness standing about two metres from the child when the boy was shot, claimed Baha was returning from playing football at the time.