New IAM investigation claims B'Tselem report ‘demonizes Israel by rebranding terrorists as minors’

The Israel Advocacy Movement (IAM) released a counter-investigation challenging a B'Tselem report on Palestinian minors killed by Israeli forces in the West Bank in 2025. IAM claims B'Tselem's report mischaracterized active combatants as innocent minors, citing martyr posters, Telegram messages, and official records. IAM found at least 20% of the 54 listed individuals were militants, 78% were actively participating in hostilities, and 63% were aged 15 or older. IAM also alleges internal discrepancies in B'Tselem's data, citing specific cases like Rida Bani Odeh and Muhammad Abu Ayash.

The Israel Advocacy Movement (IAM) published a counter-investigation challenging a B'Tselem report on Palestinian minors killed by Israeli forces in the West Bank during 2025. B'Tselem's report, titled 'Unshielded Childhood', cataloged 54 deaths and framed them as systemic state violence. IAM's investigation, led by Joseph Cohen, claims the report 'demonizes Israel by rebranding terrorists as minors'. Using martyr posters, Telegram communications, footage, and official records, IAM found that at least 20% of the individuals were militants, 78% were actively participating in hostilities, and 63% were aged 15 or older. IAM also alleges internal discrepancies in B'Tselem's data, citing specific cases like Rida Bani Odeh and Muhammad Abu Ayash. Cohen stated that mixing innocent casualties with combatants 'weaponizes their deaths to shield combatants and demonize Israel'.