Israeli soldiers confiscate Palestinian girl’s bike

Israeli soldiers confiscated the bicycle of a Palestinian girl in occupied Hebron and threw it in the bushes, a video by human rights organisation B’Tselem appears to show.

The footage, which was filmed on 25 July, shows a soldier running over to eight-year-old Anwar Burqan as she plays in the street with her siblings, she can be heard screaming as he she drops the bike. The soldier then stamps on it. When Anwar runs away, the soldier follows her while holding his gun.

Another soldier can then be seen taking the bicycle and throwing it in the bushes.

The soldier who threw the bicycle in the bushes has since been suspended, while the conduct of the other is being investigated.

Anwar’s mother, Ranya, told the Haaretz newspaper that since the incident took place her daughter is too traumatised to leave the house.

She said: “It was a trauma that will stay with her for her whole life.

“Even if she entered a place she wasn’t allowed to enter, what danger or threat did she pose – she’s only an eight-year-old girl.”

In a statement, Israeli Border Police said: “The Border Police views the incident with severity and is sorry for it. At the close of the initial investigation the Border Police commander ordered that the combatant be immediately removed from active duty. All investigative material was handed over to the Police Investigation Department, which began its investigation of the incident.”