Horrifying moment boy is fatally mauled by a lion at Palestinian zoo

This is the horrifying moment a young boy was fatally mauled by a lion after reportedly climbing through the protective fence of a Palestinian zoo.

Police confirmed the death of six-year-old Hamada Iqtiet who had been visiting a private zoo in the Gaza strip with his family.

The local police force in the embattled coastal region, which is under the control of the Palestinian militant group Hamas, said Hamada died yesterday.

Shocking footage shows the terrifying moment that the lion managed to capture the child and maul him at the Asdaa Park zoo in the southern Gaza town of Khan Younis.

Hamada appeared to get stuck behind the bars of the cage when the lion got hold of him.

Hamada Iqtiet (pictured) was fatally mauled by a lion after he ‘climbed through the protective fence’ at a Palestinian zoo

Shocking footage shows the terrifying moment that the lion managed to capture the child and maul him in the Asdaa Park zoo

Footage from the scene after the event tragically showed bloodstains on the cage bars where the boy is said to have come through the protective fence.

Police spokesman Col. Ayman Al-Batniji said Hamada had climbed through the fence when he was attacked by the lion but the family of the boy dispute this.

They say that Hamada, who was with his mother and other family members, had gone close to an outer fence where the lion was standing when he was attacked.

The officer confirmed that the police decided to close the park temporarily until the completion of an investigation.

It is reportedly the first time anyone has been killed by animals kept at one of the region’s several private zoos.

It sparked fresh calls for them to be closed, as the animals can not be properly cared for in the crowded and impoverished Palestinian territory.

The animals are reportedly kept in deplorable conditions and have suffered from repeated fighting between Israel and Gaza’s Hamas rulers, leading to neglect, starvation and lack of medical care.

Footage from another angle also showed the terrifying moment that the lion got hold of the boy

Although animal rights welfare groups have carried out several rescues of animals, many still remain in the strip that is home to some two million people.

Earlier this year another young boy, aged 12, was mauled to death by a tiger in Karnataka, southern India.

Just hours later, on February 13, his grandfather – identified as a 75-year-old tribal man – was attacked and killed in the same area. 

Tragically, another family member died of shock after hearing about the deaths.