Results of B'Tselem Investigation: Serious Suspicion that IDF Executed an Unarmed and Injured Palestinian

On Friday morning (Dec 3), IDF soldiers killed Mahmud Abd a-Rahman Hamdan Kmel (A-Dab'i), in the village of Raba, southeast of Jenin. The IDF spokesperson issued a statement saying that Kmel was killed by soldiers as he was fled from a house in which he had hidden. Yet, B'Tselem's investigation at the site of the incident raises grave suspicion that IDF soldiers executed Kmel as he was lying injured on the ground and after his weapon had already been taken away from him. B'Tselem's investigation also indicates that soldiers threatened two Palestinians at gunpoint and forced them to carry the wounded man and search his body, in blatant contradiction of a High Court injunction.

Testimonies taken by B'Tselem indicate that IDF soldiers shot at Mahmud Kmel, who was wanted for interrogation, while he tried to escape from a house in which he had spent the night. Kmel was injured, but remained fully conscious. IDF soldiers then threatened two Palestinian men at gunpoint, forcing them to bring Kmel's body to them. The two men spoke with Kmel, who told them his name and requested medical treatment. After the two handed the soldiers a pistol that had been in Kmel's possession, they carried Kmel toward the soldiers. According to their testimonies, the soldiers then told them to leave the area, and about a minute later, they heard a round of gunfire. The soldiers then sent one of the men to search Kmel to find his wallet. The man saw that Kmel had been shot in the head and killed.

The testimonies give strong reason to believe that the soldiers shot Kmel after he was injured and unarmed, and therefore posed no danger. In addition, soldiers forced civilians to carry out dangerous tasks, although the IDF made a commitment to the High Court of Justice not to use such methods. In light of the recent failures in operational debriefings conducted by the IDF, B'Tselem calls for an immediate Military Police investigation into this incident.