In the early hours of Monday, Sanad Hantouli left his hometown of Silat al-Dhahr, south of Jenin, with two cousins. Their goal: to reach Jerusalem in search of work.
But with Israeli checkpoints and military closures paralysing movement for Palestinians across the occupied West Bank, they were forced to take a dangerous route - scaling Israel’s separation wall.
Sanad’s cousin, Hantouli Hantouli, told Middle East Eye the group used a ladder left by other Palestinian labourers in an attempt to climb the 10-metre-high barrier. When Hantouli slipped trying to ascend, Sanad stepped in.
The 22-year-old successfully climbed the wall and used a rope to descend the other side. From there, he called up for the bags containing their clothes and belongings.
“I started throwing the bags down to him after I reached the top of the wall,” said Hantouli. “Then I heard gunfire.”
