The brutal death of an 18-month-old Palestinian toddler has sparked protests in the region, claiming the life of yet another young man, 17-year-old Laith Fadel Khaldi, who was shot to death by Israeli troops.
The teen was taking part in protests that demanded justice for Ali Saad Dawabsha, the infant that was burned to death, and his family, who are all in critical condition after sustaining severe burns all over their bodies, according to CNN.
An Israel military spokeswoman stated that a Palestinian protester attacked an army post in Beirzeit, a town north of Ramallah, with a Molotov cocktail. The soldiers fired at the attacker, who was in turn hit and taken to the hospital by Palestinian medics.
The 17-year-old protester was pronounced dead at the hospital, suffering bullet wounds to his chest and abdomen.
Visiting the slain toddler's family, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the country fully condemns the attack. Israeli politicians have quickly dubbed the firebombing of the toddler's family's house as a terrorist attack, reports The New York Times.
"We are shocked by it, we condemn it fully, the entire Israeli government and all the citizens of Israel. We decry it as a terrorist crime," Netanyahu said. "We will use all the tools at our disposal to bring them to justice and to see justice served to them."
Though Palestinians and their supporters are weary about treatment that the Israeli arsonists will get under the justice system, Gilad Erdan, minister of internal security, said on Friday that the case will be given top priority and that all efforts will be exhausted to make sure that the suspects end their lives behind bars.
