Updates

Hebron City Center

Border Police and settlers attack family in Hebron during argument over crossing a checkpoint, arrest member and demand he not complain against a settler in exchange for releasing him

On 5 July 2021, sisters Rima and Iman a-Talhami were driving home within Hebron in the former’s car, which has Israeli license plates. Border Police officers at Checkpoint 160 inexplicably refused to let them through. In the ensuing argument, settlers joined in and one knocked Iman over. The officers beat her son Muhammad, arrested him and demanded the family not file a complaint in exchange for releasing him. Palestinians depend on the whims of security forces in Hebron and throughout the West Bank, and are familiar with this violent routine.

8 August 2021

Hebron City Center

Settlers stone Palestinian residents; soldiers escorting them arrest B’Tselem volunteer for no reason, abuse him and release him two days later

On 11 May 2021, dozens of settlers attacked residents of the Gheith neighborhood in central Hebron and threw stones at them. The latter threw stones back. Soldiers ignored the settlers and hurled tear gas and stun grenades at the residents. At one point, settlers stoned neighborhood resident Nael Fakhuri, a B’Tselem volunteer who was passing by with his son and a neighbor. Six Border Police officers then arrested him. He was transferred between police stations, beaten by soldiers and released two days later after paying NIS 4,000.

4 August 2021

Settler Violence = State Violence

Settlers violently attack farmers from Khirbet Tana and Beit Furik in Nablus District and threaten them

On 14 June 2021, a fire broke out on pastureland that lies on a ridge south of Beit Furik and Khirbet Tana. The settlement of Itamar was established on the ridge in 1984 on land belonging to Palestinian villages, and later joined by several outposts. The following day, settlers attacked Palestinian farmers, accused them of setting the fire, threatened them and damaged their property. State-backed settler violence has become a routine part of the occupation, leading to the increasing dispossession of Palestinians throughout the West Bank.

4 August 2021

Settler Violence = State Violence

A-Tuwani and al-Mufaqarah, South Hebron Hills: Settlers escorted by soldiers attack Palestinians with stones and sticks and torch agricultural structure; soldiers fire live rounds and tear gas at the Palestinians

On Saturday, 26 June 2021, some 20 settlers invaded the village of a-Tuwani, stoned residents and beat some with sticks, injuring one. Soldiers then escorted the settlers to other communities. A settler fired at Palestinians and several others torched an agricultural structure of an a-Tuwani resident and damaged his olive grove. After the settlers retreated, other soldiers arrived and fired live fire and tear gas at the Palestinians and their homes. This is life for Masafer Yatta residents, whom Israel works to expel from their land.

2 August 2021

Open-Fire Policy

Israeli military violently raids al-Fawwar R.C., killing one Palestinian and injuring four

On Wednesday, 12 May 2021, soldiers raided al-Fawwar R.C. to arrest three residents in their homes. After one arrest, soldiers remained on the home’s roof, firing live and "two-two" bullets at residents on nearby rooftops, balconies and streets. They injured four residents and killed Hussein' Atiyyah Titi, who was hit in the chest while on his roof. As they left, the soldiers fired at a Red Crescent ambulance, puncturing its tires. The unjustifiable shooting is another expression of the military's disregard for Palestinians’ lives.

1 August 2021

Open-Fire Policy

Israeli sniper fatally shoots Malek Hamdan (20) while Palestinians throw stones at soldiers

On 14 May 2021, some 15 Palestinians from Salem went to a road by the village and threw stones at a car coming from the settlement of Elon Moreh. The driver got out and fired several shots at them. Soldiers who arrived fired tear gas, “rubber” bullets and live shots at them. The youths fled to the village while throwing stones at the soldiers. A sniper then shot one in the chest with a 0.22-inch-caliber bullet as he was turning to face the soldiers several dozen meters away – although regulations allow lethal fire only to counter mortal danger.

29 July 2021

Open-Fire Policy

Lethal suppression: Soldiers kill three protesters in three demonstrations across West Bank

In May 2021, Palestinians throughout the West Bank protested against the fighting in Gaza, police violence at al-Aqsa Mosque and planned evictions in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah. They mainly burned tires, blocked roads and threw stones at soldiers. Israeli troops suppressing the protests killed 13 demonstrators, two of them minors. The reckless open-fire policy employed against protesters not endangering lives, illustrated in three cases below, conveys, yet again, Israel’s disregard for Palestinians’ lives and wellbeing.

26 July 2021

Open-Fire Policy

Soldiers in ambush shoot and kill Islam Dar Nasser, a 16-year-old throwing stones from a distance and posing no risk

On Tuesday, 18 May 2021, shortly before residents of Bil'in were about to protest near the Separation Barrier west of the village, two soldiers appeared from an ambush beyond the barrier. The soldiers fired from about 40 meters away at young men who threw stones, hitting Islam Dar Nasser (16) in the head, who died of his wounds shortly afterward. The deadly shooting was carried out unlawfully and is another expression of the Israeli military's open-fire policy in the Occupied Territories, which permits lethal live fire in response to any threat.

21 July 2021

A Routine Founded on Violence

Occupation routine: 12-year-old violently interrogated, held in dark cell, beaten by guards and abandoned at checkpoint after 16 days in prison

On 30 May 2021, soldiers entered the home of the Muqbal family and demanded the parents bring their son Sanad (12) in for questioning. The next day, Sanad was interrogated alone and then held overnight in a small, dark cell with a wet mattress and no food or drink. In the morning, he was transferred to Megiddo Prison. He was sentenced to 31 days in prison in a plea bargain, but granted administrative release after 16 days and abandoned, alone, at Jalameh Checkpoint.

15 July 2021

Communities Facing Expulsion

Court sanctioned war crime committed in broad daylight

On July 7, 2021, Israel committed an attempted forcible transfer – a war crime – against residents of Humsah. In a break from the previous five demolitions in the community within less than a year, yesterday, Israeli soldiers and Civil Administration staff removed the contents of some residents’ homes and transported the items to an area located near ‘Ein Shibli, where Israel has been trying to forcibly relocate residents. Israel misrepresented these actions as being part of dialog and consent, proving, if anyone still entertained any doubts, it is intent on expelling these residents from their homes permanently.

11 July 2021

Planning Policy in the West Bank

Trucks load personal belongings; buses arrive for residents: Israel carries out massive demolition at Humsah for the sixth time in less than a year

On Wednesday, July 7, 2021, Israeli forces arrived at the tent-dwelling community of Khirbet Humsah in the Jordan Valley. According to early reports, the forces have dismantled and confiscated tents housing numerous community members along with everything inside them, loading them onto trucks well into the evening. Buses also arrived at the scene to remove residents who were left without shelter in the sweltering heat.

8 July 2021

Open-Fire Policy

Soldier kills Husam 'Asayrah (19) during violent settler raid on village of 'Asirah al-Qibliyah

On 14 May 2021, settlers and soldiers came to the village in Nablus District. The settlers threw stones at homes and residents and fired in the air, and residents threw stones at them. The soldiers used force against the residents instead of distancing the settlers. After the party moved to a distant hilltop, a soldier shot and killed 'Asirah and injured another resident although they posed no danger. Such collaboration between soldiers and settlers is part of Israel’s unofficial policy to drive Palestinians out and take over West Bank land.

30 June 2021

Open-Fire Policy

Video footage shows Israeli special police unit carrying out targeted killing of Ahmad ‘Abdu, a Palestinian sitting in his car and endangering no one

In the early morning hours of 25 May 2021, an Israeli Special Police Unit vehicle stopped in front of a car just after Ahmad ‘Abdu (25) got into it, in the Palestinian town neighborhood of Um a-Sharayet next to al-Bireh in the West Bank. Officers who got out of the vehicle immediately fired several shots at the car and surrounded it, apparently dragging ‘Abdu out. They then left without extending him first aid.

23 June 2021

Settler Violence = State Violence

Settlers escorted by military lead herd of cattle through cultivated fields in Wadi Qana and attack farmers. Soldiers fire in the air, drive out farmers, and one attacks farmer

On Sunday, 23 May 2021, at around 6:00 P.M., about 15 settlers, escorted by about five soldiers, led a herd of some 60 cows from east to west through Wadi Qana, a fertile valley with cultivated farmland belonging to residents of Deir Istiya and other villages, which Israel is trying to take over.

16 June 2021

Detainees & Prisoners

Israeli prison guards beat bound Palestinian prisoners: Whitewashing highlights importance of ICC

Although Israel claims it ensures accountability for offenses against Palestinians, Josh Breiner revealed today in Israeli daily Ha’aretz, following complaints filed by Israeli rights group HaMoked, that appalling attacks by Israeli prison guards against bound Palestinian prisoners at Ketziot Prison were whitewashed. The investigation of this clear-cut, documented case, in which the victims knew precisely who harmed them, was shut down by law enforcement authorities after several symbolic gestures, on the grounds of “perpetrator unknown.” No one bothered to even mix the white paint, let alone cover someone in it.

13 June 2021

The Gaza Strip

And now for the whitewashing

With the latest round of bombing in Gaza over, the standard whitewashing is likely next: no accountability for policymakers and a fruitless examination of “exceptional incidents”. Israel’s claim it abided by international law in these attacks is based on a manipulative, unreasonable interpretation concocted to justify broad harm to civilians. Israel committed war crimes in Gaza. These must be properly investigated and the perpetrators held accountable – to do justice by the victims and to ensure this intolerable policy is not repeated.

24 May 2021

The Gaza Strip

“Collateral Damage”?

The principle of proportionality prohibits an attack if the expected harm to civilians is excessive in relation to the anticipated military advantage. As its complicated implementation relies on assessments and partial knowledge, and on balancing virtually incomparable elements, moral considerations also come into play. The interpretation Israel offers for this principle is unreasonable, legally erroneous and morally bankrupt. Israel may lay the blame on Hamas, yet its bombs are the ones killing civilians and it bears sole responsibility.

20 May 2021

The Gaza Strip

Bombing civilian objects is a war crime

Israel insists it is only attacking legitimate military objectives in Gaza. As it has not provided proof the attacks meet the criteria of international humanitarian law – “an effective contribution to military action” and "offering a definite military advantage” – their lawfulness cannot be established. Clearly, bombing homes only due to inhabitants’ identity or in order to demoralize the population is unlawful. Israel implemented this broad legal interpretation in previous rounds of fighting, but has never been held accountable for its policy.

20 May 2021

Attacks on Israeli Civilians by Palestinians

Rocket fire from Gaza constitutes war crime

Palestinian armed groups have been routinely and intolerably firing rockets at Israeli communities near the Gaza Strip. Since Monday, 10 May, Hamas expanded the range of these attacks and fired rockets at cities in the center of Israel, followed shortly by Islamic Jihad. These criminal acts have resulted in deaths and injuries of Israeli and other civilians in recent days, including the killing of a five year-old boy. These war crimes cannot be excused, justified or explained. The ICC prosecutor announced that her office will investigate these criminal acts and B’Tselem hopes that all those responsible will be held accountable.

19 May 2021

The Gaza Strip

The bombing of residential high-rises in Gaza constitutes a war crime

Bombing residential towers - that do not constitute a military target and make dozens of families homeless - is a war crime. The architects and leaders of the Israeli apartheid regime, who do not consider Palestinians as equal human beings deserving full human rights, should be prosecuted for this war crime.

19 May 2021

The Gaza Strip

Killing blockaded civilians and destroying infrastructure on a massive scale: Israel is committing war crimes in the Gaza Strip

The Palestinian Ministry of Health reports 139 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza so far, including 39 minors and 22 women. Entire families were wiped out when Israel bombed their homes. Reports that some deaths were caused by rockets launched from Gaza are being investigated. While the ICC Prosecutor is investigating suspected war crimes committed in 2014, Israel is now implementing the same policy. The international community must use whatever leverage it has to force Israel to change its policy before it claims more lives.

15 May 2021

Apartheid

We all desire life and are entitled to a regime that guarantees justice and equality

The current violence throughout Israel/Palestine is an outcome of the apartheid regime that controls the entire area. Under this regime, about half of the people who live between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea – Jews – are able to lead full lives and enjoy protection of their human rights, while the other half – Palestinians – cannot. We are all entitled to live under a regime that ensures justice and quality for both peoples. We all desire life. For every single one of us.

13 May 2021

Hebron City Center

Soldiers disperse stone-throwing with “rubber” bullets, costing 14-year-old onlooker his eye

Around 2:00 P.M. on 9 April 2021, ‘Iz a-Din al-Batsh (14) was working at a store in central Hebron when he was hit in the eye by a “rubber” bullet fired by a soldier during clashes with stone-throwers nearby. About five hours after he was taken to hospital in Hebron, and after his transfer to a hospital elsewhere was delayed, his relatives demanded soldiers at Bab a-Zawiya checkpoint allow him passage for treatment in Israel. They refused. After midnight he was finally taken to hospital in East Jerusalem, where his eye was surgically removed.

9 May 2021