On February 9, 2025, Israeli forces shot and killed a 23-year-old pregnant Palestinian woman, Sundus Jamal Mohammed Shalabi, along with her unborn child, during a military raid in the Nur Shams refugee camp near Tulkarm. Her husband was critically wounded in the attack, according to Palestinian health officials and eyewitnesses.
The tragic incident happened as the Israeli troops increase operations across the occupied West Bank targeting areas that they claim is holding armed resistance fighters. But the Palestinian residents said that such operations are responsible for heavy civilian casualties and destruction.
Witnesses said that Shalabi and her husband were trying to escape their house when Israeli troops opened fire. The couple was unarmed and did not pose any danger. Medical sources confirmed that Shalabi, who was eight months pregnant, died from fatal gunshot wounds and doctors could not save her baby. Her husband is still in critical condition.
Israeli military officials apologized for the tragic incident and indicated that an investigation is being held internally. Nevertheless, Palestinian government officials condemned this attack as merely another example of the Israeli occupation’s disregard for Palestinian lives in general, particularly women and children.”.
Escalation of Israeli Raids in the West Bank
The killing of Shalabi comes amidst increased, monumental escalations of Israeli military operations against the West Bank, especially Jenin, Tulkarm and other refugee camps. The Israeli army had gone on the ground and launched incursions, which coincided with airstrikes and demolition of houses. In this respect, the operations killed many Palestinians, including civilians, and displaced thousands.
The Israeli military asserts that such strikes are part of trying to break down militant networks, but the Palestinians claim that this offensive is indiscriminative and disproportionate, thus targeting civilians. Several organizations have attacked the Israeli military for excessive force, collective punishment, and breaches of international law.
The killing of Shalabi and her unborn child has stirred criticism among Palestinian leaders, human rights organizations, and international observers. The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the incident as a war crime, urging the international community to step in as quickly as possible.
Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch were joined by several human rights organizations to renew their demand for an independent investigation of the actions Israel conducted in occupied territories. Speaking about this incident and the killing of the pregnant woman and her fetus, an Amnesty International official stated that it is a flagrant violation of human rights: “This tragic event highlights the need for accountability for actions and an end to violence’s vicious circle.”
There is still a chance that the difficult situation on the West Bank would worsen. Palestinians are calling for justice for Shalabi and other victims of Israeli military activities, and protests have broken out in several cities. International diplomatic efforts continue to face challenges because violence continues unabated.
This is how the killing of Sundus Jamal Mohammed Shalabi and her unborn child remains another sad reminder of the price that is paid in human blood in this senseless conflict over Israel and Palestine.
