The Foreign Office has tonight called for an immediate session of the UN Security Council after Israeli forces shot and killed a four-month-old infant in the occupied West Bank. The child, named locally as Layan Hamdan, was struck by a bullet while in her father’s arms during an overnight raid near Jenin. The Foreign Secretary described the killing as “abhorrent and unnecessary” and said Britain would use its position as a permanent council member to demand an independent investigation.
The incident has reignited fury over the rising toll of civilian deaths in the territory. According to the Palestinian health ministry, at least 38 children have been killed by Israeli fire in the West Bank since October. The Israeli military said its troops came under fire during an arrest operation and that the circumstances of the infant’s death were under review. But for families like the Hamdans, living under the daily grind of occupation, that review offers cold comfort.
Layan’s father, Mahmoud, told reporters that he was standing outside his home when the shooting started. “I was holding her. She was sleeping. Then there was a single shot. She didn’t cry. She was gone.” He later handed the tiny body to medics, wrapped in a white cloth. The image of that bundle has now been shared across social media, drawing condemnation from leaders in Cairo, Amman and beyond.
Downing Street confirmed that the Prime Minister had spoken with the Israeli ambassador to express “outrage and dismay”. The official readout said Britain “stands ready to support any mechanism that ensures accountability” and stressed that the protection of civilians is a legal obligation under international humanitarian law. The Palestinians have already called for a war crimes investigation. Human rights groups point to a pattern of disproportionate force and a lack of meaningful discipline within the Israeli ranks.
The killing comes at a delicate political moment. The US has been pushing for a ceasefire in Gaza and a wider de-escalation in the region. But the West Bank, often overshadowed by the war in Gaza, has seen a surge in settler violence and military raids. The UN’s humanitarian office reports that 2024 is on track to be the deadliest year for Palestinians in the West Bank since records began.
For ordinary British families watching the news from their living rooms, this may feel distant. But the Foreign Office’s quick response reflects a growing unease in Whitehall that the conflict is spiralling out of control. The demand for a UN session is a rare and serious step. It signals that London is no longer willing to rely on quiet diplomacy alone. Whether that translates into concrete action – sanctions, a suspension of arms sales, or a travel ban on extremist settlers – remains to be seen.
Tonight, in Jenin refugee camp, Layan Hamdan’s family will bury her. They will do so without electricity, as the Israeli army has cut power to the camp. The cost of this conflict, measured not in missiles or tanks but in the price of a small white shroud, has never been starker. Britain has demanded a seat at the table. The question now is what it will do once it sits down.
