Press Statement

A Physical Assault Amounting to Attempted Murder Against Sharek Youth Forum Staff

Sharek Youth Forum strongly condemns the serious physical assault carried out against its staff, represented by its Executive Director, Dr. Bader Zamareh, along with colleagues Adel Sabaneh and Mohammad Asaleyeh, during a field visit to the Youth Village on April 1st, 2026.

A group of settlers attacked the team using physical violence and threats with weapons, in what constitutes a criminal act amounting to attempted murder. The assault targeted vital areas of the body (chest, head, and limbs), posing a direct threat to their lives. The attack was also accompanied by the theft of an amount estimated at 3,000 ILS.

During the visit, the team documented systematic acts of vandalism within the village, including the destruction of property and the dismantling of doors, reflecting a clear escalation in the recurring targeting of the Youth Village as a civilian space.

The Forum affirms that this attack comes within a broader pattern of escalating violations and holds the occupying authorities fully legally responsible for the incident and its consequences, as the occupying power obligated to ensure the protection of civilians.

The Forum calls for:

An urgent international investigation into the incident.
Immediate protection for the staff and the village.
Accountability for those responsible in accordance with international law.

The Forum also calls on the international community and human rights organizations to assume their responsibilities in putting an end to these violations and ensuring the protection of Palestinian civilian spaces.

Sharek Youth Forum reaffirms its commitment to continuing its mission and defending the right of youth to access safe spaces.