Father: I'll sue the IDF for taking my son
Khalad Tantawi, father of 13-year-old Udawi killed by IDF fire Friday, says he plans to sue the IDF and Israel for killing his son
Tantawi said he planned to sue the IDF and Israel, following an IDF investigation which strengthens his case.
An initial IDF investigation found that soldiers opened fire against orders.
The army issued a statement following the incident, saying that the soldiers were on a routine operation in the area when Palestinians began to riot, throwing stones and bottles.
The IDF force identified a Palestinian approaching them, and believed him to be armed, therefore opening fire in his direction.
'It was a targeted fire'
Tantawi said Saturday that the IDF investigation reinforces the evidence Palestinian children - who had played with his son - collected following the incident, as well as medical reports.
"It was a targeted fire from a distance, no child or stone could have endangered the lives of anyone," he said. "The army lies. At first they said he was armed, how can a 13-year-old be armed?"
"Afterwards they spoke about stones. No stone could have reached the distance between the children and the soldiers," he said. "You need to look at the body to understand that it was a targeted shooting with the intention to kill."
Tantawi said that following an examination of his son's body, it was revealed that several bullets were fired at Udawi's chest.
"One bullet pierced his heart and exited his back," he said. "Seeing his body was dreadful. No religion in the world, no morality or law can explain what happened."
'He just wanted to pick fruit and play'
According to the father, Udawi and his friends went to play in the park near his home, where they pick fruit and play most days during the summer.
"About five minutes later someone told me Udawi had been injured. When I asked the children what happened, they said, 'we were only picking fruit and playing when they opened fire and Udawi was killed,'" he said.
While he said the army had not yet approached the family, he pledged to avenge his son's death and sue the army and state.
"I'll sue them for taking away my little boy, who only wanted to play in the park," he said. "This is difficult and painful, but I will not ignore whoever killed my son."
