Updates

Administrative Detention

Life of journalist Muhammad al-Qiq, administrative detainee on hunger strike for 65 days, in danger

Palestinian journalist Muhammad al-Qiq, 33, has been on hunger strike for 65 days (as of 28 Jan) to protest his arrest. He has been in administrative detention for over a month. According to medical literature, his life is by now in danger. Last week, the Israeli Supreme Court rejected Al-Qiq’s petition for release and refrained from determining, as yet, whether he should be released due to his medical condition. According to recent Israel Prison Service data, 527 Palestinians are currently being held in administrative detention – the highest figure since 2009.

28 January 2016

Area C

Israeli authorities demolish ten Palestinian homes in Area C in January, leaving 59 homeless, incl. 37 minors

Since the beginning of 2016 Israel has demolished eight Palestinian homes in the area defined as E1 and two homes in the South Hebron Hills, including one in Khirbet Susiya, where residents have struggled for years against expulsion and settler takeover. These demolitions serve Israel’s policy to create immutable facts on the ground ahead of any future agreement. This longstanding policy, which creates an impossible daily reality for Palestinians in Area C, constitutes forced transfer of protected residents within the occupied territory.

27 January 2016

Attacks on Israeli Civilians by Palestinians

Young woman injured in stabbing attack yesterday in settlement of Beit Horon dies of her injuries

It was reported this morning that Shlomit Kriegman, 23, who was stabbed yesterday by a Palestinian in the settlement of Beit Horon, died of her injuries. According to the reports, two Palestinians came to Beit Horon yesterday and stabbed two women – Shlomit Kriegman, 23, and another woman aged 60 who was moderately injured. The two attackers were shot and killed by a security guard on the settlement and another armed civilian. B'Tselem wishes to express its profound sorrow on Shlomit Kriegman’s death and extends its condolences to her family and hopes for a speedy recovery to the other woman injured in the attack. Dliberate targeting of civilians undermines every moral, legal and human standard.

26 January 2016

Detainees & Prisoners

B'Tselem field researcher Nasser Nawaj’ah released after six day arrest

Judge finds that authorities failed to produce sufficient evidence that Nawaj’ah endangered a land dealer. Ofer Military Court yesterday (Jan. 24, 2016) ordered the release of B'Tselem field researcher Nasser Nawaj’ah, who was arrested on the night between Tuesday and Wednesday (Jan. 20, 2016) but delayed the execution of his decision for 24 hours in order to allow the police to appeal. The police announced this afternoon it will not pursue an appeal, which clears the way for his release in the coming hours.

25 January 2016

Detainees & Prisoners

Update: Contempt of Court motion rejected. Appeal filed

Contempt of Court motion rejected today (22 Jan. 2016). Habeas corpus motion was now filed to the Israeli supreme court following the state violation of court's order to release B'Tselem's field worker unconditionally. Despite the order, he was transferred to a military court in the West Bank.

22 January 2016

Hebron City Center

Collective punishment continues in downtown Hebron: Neighborhoods and shops closed, frequent checkpoint inspections

Since early October 2015, the military has imposed broad restrictions on Palestinian movement in central Hebron, preventing residents from maintaining a reasonable routine. The military has blocked the entrances to some streets in the Old City, closed the Tel Rumeidah neighborhood to non-residents, introduced stricter inspections at 16 existing checkpoints, and established new checkpoints. Passersby are subjected to repeated and lengthy inspections and residents report that they feel imprisoned, leaving home only for work and studies.

21 January 2016

Detainees & Prisoners

Court releases B’Tselem field researcher unconditionally, but Israeli authorities still hold him in custody

Today, Jerusalem District Court Judge, Moshe Yoed Hacohen, ordered the unconditional immediate release of B'Tselem field researcher Nasser Nawaj'ah, who was arrested by the police on the night between Tuesday and Wednesday. However, the Israeli police violated the court order and told his counsel that he had been taken to the military court at Ofer Camp, which remanded him to custody until Sunday.

21 January 2016

Attacks on Israeli Civilians by Palestinians

Palestinian stabs Israeli woman to death in her home in settlement of Otniel

According to media reports, a Palestinian stabbed Israeli civilian Dafna Meir to death yesterday evening on the threshold of her home and fled. Meir, 39, was a mother of six from the settlement of Otniel in the South Hebron Hills. Three of her children were at home at the time. B’Tselem expresses deep sorrow over the attack and conveys its sincerest condolences to the family of the deceased. Deliberate targeting of civilians undermines every moral, legal and human standard. B’Tselem strongly condemns any and all deliberate attacks against Israeli or Palestinian civilians and calls once again on politicians and leaders on all sides to act responsibly and avoid fanning the flames of violence.

17 January 2016

Agriculture

Week of harassment in Jordan Valley continues harm to Area C communities

From 12 to 14 Jan.2016, B'Tselem documented Civil Administration harassment of five Palestinian communities in the Jordan Valley, in continuation of efforts to force Palestinians out of Area C. In Kh. ‘Ein Karzaliyah, structures were photographed, apparently ahead of repeat demolitions; in Kh. ‘Einun, forces destroyed agricultural structures and a water reservoir; and in Yarza and Kh. a-Ras al-Ahmar, families were informed that they would again be displaced for military training.

17 January 2016

East Jerusalem

Israel demolished three homes in January in punitive actions, leaving 18 persons homeless; 29 demolitions carried out since Oct. 2015

Since the start of 2016, Israel has demolished three homes as collective punishment for attacks against Israeli civilians committed by family members. This left 18 persons homeless, including seven minors. Security forces have also surveyed dozens of homes slated for future demolition. Despite the extreme nature of this act and the clear position of jurists that it is illegal, the HCJ repeatedly approves the demolitions. Demolishing or sealing homes is a draconian, vindictive action targeting entire families not suspected of any offense.

14 January 2016

Area C

Civil Administration demolishes family’s tent home and livestock pen in Khirbet a-Rahwa, south Hebron hills

In the early hours of 13 January 2016, representatives of the Civil Administration and the military came to the Palestinian community of Khirbet a-Rahwa, which lies south of the town of a-Dahariya and close to the settlement Tene. The force demolished a tent that was home to a family of nine, including seven minors, and a livestock pen that belongs to the family. The force also confiscated a solar panel donated to the family by humanitarian aid organizations. The family’s tent had already been demolished a year ago and re-erected since.

14 January 2016

Economic & Social Rights

No recourse: Patients cannot get proper treatment in Gaza or elsewhere

The Gazan health care system is unable to provide adequate care to the residents of Gaza, in part due to neglect during Israel’s direct rule there and also to the present day siege. Yet Israel does not allow most patients who need non-lifesaving medical care to enter Israel or pass through it en route to the West Bank or Jordan. An entry permit for medical care is not an act of charity: since Israel still controls Palestinian movement in and out of Gaza, it must let patients leave Gaza to allow them to get proper care.

12 January 2016

General

B'Tselem: Relieved and eager to get back to work

A fire broke out at our office in Jerusalem this evening. None of our staff were in the building, but people working on other floors had to be evacuated by the fire brigade. Following the announcement by the fire brigade that the cause of the fire in our office is probably an electrical fault, we are extremely relieved and eager to begin the cleanup as soon as possible. Over the past few hours we experienced an outpouring of support and solidarity from friends and supporters in Israel, in the Occupied Territories and abroad. We thank you all for your kindness, and promise to get back to work, and carry on until the end of the occupation.

11 January 2016

Beating and Abuse

Israeli soldiers allegedly beat teenagers in al-Janiyah they suspected of throwing stones; boys released without facing any legal measures

On 13 Dec. 2015 soldiers fired tear gas into a home in al-Janiya during clashes. Yazan Mazlum and Yusef Shabayeh, both 17, went to help its inhabitants. According to testimonies given to B’Tselem, soldiers who came into the building dragged the boys away and beat them severely, alleging they had thrown stones. This is yet another instance of security forces using violence for alleged involvement in stone-throwing. That such incidents continue, although the responsible parties know of the phenomenon, raises concern that the military might consider them legitimate means. However, this type of violence is prohibited under any circumstance.

6 January 2016

East Jerusalem

“The [Green] Line is long gone”: Gilo to be expanded, creating annexable bloc that includes Cremisan Valley and extends to Har Gilo

On 16 Dec. 2015 approval to deposit a plan for review was given for a plan to build 891 residential units south of the neighborhood of Gilo, which is on West Bank land unilaterally annexed to Jerusalem. The southward expansion lays the groundwork for annexation by creating a contiguous bloc between Gilo and the settlement of Har Gilo. The Cremisan Valley, an area under the plan that serves Palestinians as a vital source of income and for recreation, will apparently become a free public space for the residents of Gilo and Har Gilo. This belies the security justification for the barrier’s route accepted by the High Court, and exemplifies Israel’s annexationist policy.

5 January 2016

No Accountability

Soldiers who shot teen in the back charged with “reckless and negligent act”; COs won't be held accountable

On 30 Dec. the two soldiers who shot and killed Samir ‘Awad near the Separation Barrier in Jan. 2013 were indicted. The facts described in the indictment are very similar to those found by B’Tselem’s inquiries, clearly indicating the shooting was unjustified and an outright breach of the open-fire regulations. The disparity between the soldiers’ egregious conduct and the minor charges being brought against them beggars belief, and sends security personnel in the OPT a clear message that the system will allow them to continue to operate with impunity, even if they kill Palestinians who pose no danger and even if they breach regulations.

31 December 2015

General

Video: A third generation has been born into the occupation

A third generation has been born into the occupation by now. A third generation of children who know only the reality of daily human rights violations. It’s hard to find hope when the occupation infiltrates every aspect of your life. While Israeli authorities and their various emissaries are doing everything in their power to silence dissent over the occupation’s chokehold on Palestinians, we are here to ensure that you know what is being done in the occupied territories and to work towards a better reality. Let's end the occupation. Join us and support B'Tselem.

31 December 2015

Administrative Detention

It’s all by the book

Op-ed by Yael Stein, Director of B'Tselem’s Research Dept., first published in Ynetnews. In response to allegations that torture was used in interrogating the suspects in the torching of the Dawabsheh family home that killed three people, PM Netanyahu was quick to reassure: “All the investigations are being conducted in accordance with the law”. The question is not whether a given act is in accordance with a specially tailored law. The fact that something is legal does not make it justifiable. Sometimes the fact that something is legal serves only to illustrate the bankruptcy of legislative mechanisms.

30 December 2015

No Accountability

Unwarranted gunfire by Israeli soldiers at school shuttle after checkpoint inspection

On 9 Dec. 2015 soldiers at a flying checkpoint near Silwad fired at a car shuttling school boys as it drove off after inspection. A bullet shattered the back window and lodged in the windshield. The four boys, aged 8-16, suffered anxiety attacks. The military said one of the boys had thrown a screwdriver at the soldiers, a claim unbacked by evidence and contradicted by the accounts given by the driver and children. Even if the claim were true, the shooting was unwarranted and violated open-fire regulations. Fortunately, no one was hurt by the bullet that penetrated the car.

28 December 2015

Torture and Abuse

No abuse or torture under interrogation - no matter what

Israel’s law enforcement authorities have formulated an interrogation system that relies on abuse and even torture. It is not the private initiative of any individual interrogator or prison guard. The use of these measures in interrogation is wrong. People under interrogation – be they Palestinian or Jewish – must not be subjected to abuse and torture, no matter what.

23 December 2015

Beating and Abuse

Israeli security forces violently arrest two young boys (8 and 12), interrogate and hold them for hours

On 24 Nov. 2015, security forces arrested two young minors in Beit Ummar. Khatab Abu Mariyah, 12, who was arrested on the street, told B’Tselem he had been kicked and beaten. Yusef ‘Alameh, 8, was taken by force from his home despite being under the age of criminal responsibility. Security forces did not allow the parents accompany the boys, who were then held for hours and interrogated without the presence of an adult on their behalf. This disregard of the basic protections afforded to minors along with the violence used are another example of cases previously documented by B’Tselem in which the military blatantly violates the rights of minors – with legal backing.

21 December 2015

Open-Fire Policy

Failure to return bodies of Palestinian dead gravely injures their innocent families

The bodies of 55 Palestinians, including 11 minors, killed in the recent wave of violence have yet to be returned to their families. This measure does not punish the dead but their families, who were neither involved in nor responsible for the actions of their relatives. The non-return of bodies is an official policy justified by the Israeli government on the grounds of deterrence. Yet “deterrence” cannot justify all actions, and certainly not a policy that gravely injury human dignity. Not only is this policy patently immoral, it is yet another instance of Israeli authorities’ disregard for the lives of Palestinians – even after their death.

17 December 2015

Open-Fire Policy

Unjustified use of lethal force and execution of Palestinians who stabbed or were suspected of attempted stabbings

Since Oct. 2015 dozens of assaults by Palestinians have left 16 civilians and 3 members of Israel’s security forces dead. Up to 11 Dec. 2015, 71 assailants were shot dead by security forces or civilians. This wave of violent assaults is appalling, and clearly Israel’s security forces must protect the public. The law is also clear: shooting to kill is permissible only in cases of mortal danger. Yet analysis of 12 cases widely covered in the media and examined by B’Tselem paints an alarming picture of excessive and unwarranted use of lethal gunfire, which in some cases was tantamount to summary execution of assailants or suspected assailants.

16 December 2015

Settler Violence = State Violence

Abuse and torture of detainees are immoral and illegal measures

Recent reports state the ISA may use “special measures” against the suspects in the Duma torching which killed three members of the Dawabsheh family. These measures are a code name for abuse used in the interrogation system developed since the 1999 court ruling banning torture. Authorities must fully investigate and prosecute this heinous crime, one of the worst perpetrated by Israelis against Palestinians, but it must do so without resorting to prohibited measures or violating suspects’ rights. The same must apply to all Palestinian detainees, who are routinely abused and at times tortured.

15 December 2015