2 nov 2019
Israeli soldiers invaded, on Saturday morning, a Palestinian school in the al-‘Isawiya town, in occupied East Jerusalem, and abducted one child, in addition to causing many others to suffer the effects of teargas inhalation after throwing gas bombs into their school. video
Media sources said the soldiers abducted Saleh Tawil, in the al-‘Isawiya Secondary School for Boys, and took him to an unknown destination.
They added that the soldiers fired gas bombs, in addition to hurling gas grenades into the campus, causing many children to suffer the effects of teargas inhalation, the Wadi Hilweh Information Center in Silwan (Silwanic) has reported.
On Friday evening, the soldiers detained a Palestinian groom and his bride, after stopping their car at the Container military roadblock, north of Bethlehem.
The groom and his bride were detained at the roadblock for more than an hour, before the soldiers allowed them to leave. The army did not provide any reason for its soldiers’ actions.
Media sources said the soldiers abducted Saleh Tawil, in the al-‘Isawiya Secondary School for Boys, and took him to an unknown destination.
They added that the soldiers fired gas bombs, in addition to hurling gas grenades into the campus, causing many children to suffer the effects of teargas inhalation, the Wadi Hilweh Information Center in Silwan (Silwanic) has reported.
On Friday evening, the soldiers detained a Palestinian groom and his bride, after stopping their car at the Container military roadblock, north of Bethlehem.
The groom and his bride were detained at the roadblock for more than an hour, before the soldiers allowed them to leave. The army did not provide any reason for its soldiers’ actions.
Al-Mezan Center For Human Rights: In one of the dozens of cases pursued by Al Mezan Center for Human Rights for the killing of unarmed Palestinians in Gaza’s ‘Great March of Return’ protests, an Israeli military court has sentenced a soldier who killed on July 13 2018, 14-year-old child, Othman Hillis, to only 30 days in prison.
A suspended 60-day sentence and a demotion in rank were added by the court, which indicted the soldier on the charge of “disobeying an order leading to a threat to life or health”, per article 72 of Israeli Martial Law (1955).
Convicting—even charging—an Israeli soldier for conduct that led to death or harm of a Palestinian is rare; however, the case is very troubling in that it was centered on disciplinary charges, instead of properly based on criminal charges for unlawful killing.
The absence of a criminal conviction is a testament to the perpetual manner in which the Israeli justice system, including the military courts, shields State actors from genuine accountability and denies justice and redress to the victims, even in cases amounting to potential war crimes.
Al Mezan submitted a criminal complaint to the Israeli Military Advocate General on 4 September 2018, requesting a criminal investigation into the 13 July 2018 killing of Hillis; the Military Police initiated a criminal investigation two months later.
On 6 March 2019, with Al Mezan’s legal and technical support to the family, investigators interviewed Hillis’ father at Erez crossing. Al Mezan was then informed in writing on 29 October 2019 that, “the investigation is concluded […] and based on the findings, the Military Advocate General has convicted the soldier in question with exceeding his authority” (unofficial translation of the text by Al Mezan).
The evidence collected by Al Mezan shows Hillis’ shooting to be an act of willful killing, requiring a sentence commensurate with the gravity of the crime.
The sentence handed down by the court for failure to follow orders and show discipline is woefully derisory and demonstrates rampant impunity in Israel and a lack of effective means of redress for Palestinian victims and/or their families.
Al Mezan’s documentation shows that since 30 March 2018, Israeli forces have killed 214 Palestinians at the ‘Great March of Return’ protests in the Gaza Strip, including 46 children, four paramedics, two journalists, and nine persons with disability. Over 18,000 more have been injured.
The use of lethal and other excessive force against unarmed protesters and media and medical personnel at the demonstrations, resulting in the fatalities and injuries, constitutes a grave violation of the right to life enshrined in International Human Rights Law and demonstrates a complete disregard for the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials.
After investigations, the 2018 United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Protests in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, detailed a “lack of confidence” in the Israeli justice system, whereby the Military Advocate General “has yet to accept the implications of accountability”.[1]
The Commission continued that the “principles of promptness, independence and impartiality, and effectiveness appear to be compromised”.[2]
Al Mezan’s similar findings of persistent failure by the Israeli justice system to hold perpetrators to account in accordance with international law necessitate the intervention of international justice mechanisms, including the International Criminal Court. The protection of civilians and the rule of law are gravely undermined through the perpetuation of a state of impunity.
Al Mezan calls on the international community to fulfill its responsibilities and legal obligations to end serious violations of the rules and norms of international law, and to ensure that civilians living under occupation are granted due protection.
The Office of the Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court must investigate the alleged grave and systematic crimes committed in the occupied Palestinian territory to provide justice and an effective deterrent to the possible future commission of crimes.
* This statement was issued by the Al-Mezan Center For Human Rights
————–
[1] UN Commission of Inquiry report into the Gaza 2018 protests in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (2019) Report of detailed findings (UN Doc. A/HRC/40/CRP.2)
https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/RegularSessions/Session40/Documents/A_HRC_40_74_CRP2.pdf para. 726
[2] Ibid footnote 1
A suspended 60-day sentence and a demotion in rank were added by the court, which indicted the soldier on the charge of “disobeying an order leading to a threat to life or health”, per article 72 of Israeli Martial Law (1955).
Convicting—even charging—an Israeli soldier for conduct that led to death or harm of a Palestinian is rare; however, the case is very troubling in that it was centered on disciplinary charges, instead of properly based on criminal charges for unlawful killing.
The absence of a criminal conviction is a testament to the perpetual manner in which the Israeli justice system, including the military courts, shields State actors from genuine accountability and denies justice and redress to the victims, even in cases amounting to potential war crimes.
Al Mezan submitted a criminal complaint to the Israeli Military Advocate General on 4 September 2018, requesting a criminal investigation into the 13 July 2018 killing of Hillis; the Military Police initiated a criminal investigation two months later.
On 6 March 2019, with Al Mezan’s legal and technical support to the family, investigators interviewed Hillis’ father at Erez crossing. Al Mezan was then informed in writing on 29 October 2019 that, “the investigation is concluded […] and based on the findings, the Military Advocate General has convicted the soldier in question with exceeding his authority” (unofficial translation of the text by Al Mezan).
The evidence collected by Al Mezan shows Hillis’ shooting to be an act of willful killing, requiring a sentence commensurate with the gravity of the crime.
The sentence handed down by the court for failure to follow orders and show discipline is woefully derisory and demonstrates rampant impunity in Israel and a lack of effective means of redress for Palestinian victims and/or their families.
Al Mezan’s documentation shows that since 30 March 2018, Israeli forces have killed 214 Palestinians at the ‘Great March of Return’ protests in the Gaza Strip, including 46 children, four paramedics, two journalists, and nine persons with disability. Over 18,000 more have been injured.
The use of lethal and other excessive force against unarmed protesters and media and medical personnel at the demonstrations, resulting in the fatalities and injuries, constitutes a grave violation of the right to life enshrined in International Human Rights Law and demonstrates a complete disregard for the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials.
After investigations, the 2018 United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Protests in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, detailed a “lack of confidence” in the Israeli justice system, whereby the Military Advocate General “has yet to accept the implications of accountability”.[1]
The Commission continued that the “principles of promptness, independence and impartiality, and effectiveness appear to be compromised”.[2]
Al Mezan’s similar findings of persistent failure by the Israeli justice system to hold perpetrators to account in accordance with international law necessitate the intervention of international justice mechanisms, including the International Criminal Court. The protection of civilians and the rule of law are gravely undermined through the perpetuation of a state of impunity.
Al Mezan calls on the international community to fulfill its responsibilities and legal obligations to end serious violations of the rules and norms of international law, and to ensure that civilians living under occupation are granted due protection.
The Office of the Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court must investigate the alleged grave and systematic crimes committed in the occupied Palestinian territory to provide justice and an effective deterrent to the possible future commission of crimes.
* This statement was issued by the Al-Mezan Center For Human Rights
————–
[1] UN Commission of Inquiry report into the Gaza 2018 protests in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (2019) Report of detailed findings (UN Doc. A/HRC/40/CRP.2)
https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/RegularSessions/Session40/Documents/A_HRC_40_74_CRP2.pdf para. 726
[2] Ibid footnote 1
1 nov 2019
Undercover Israeli soldiers broke into a Palestinian home, on Friday at dawn, in Beit Liqya village, west of the central West Bank city of Ramallah, and kidnapped a Palestinian teenage boy.
The family said the undercover soldiers stormed their home, pointing the guns at them, before many uniformed soldiers surrounding the property and invaded it.
They added that the soldiers forced them in one room, and kidnapped Ahmad Saleh Bader, 17, before placing him in one of their vehicles, and drove away.
The family said the undercover soldiers stormed their home, pointing the guns at them, before many uniformed soldiers surrounding the property and invaded it.
They added that the soldiers forced them in one room, and kidnapped Ahmad Saleh Bader, 17, before placing him in one of their vehicles, and drove away.
31 oct 2019
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) last night and at dawn Thursday kidnaped eight Palestinian citizens, including lawmaker Khaleda Jarrar, from their homes in different areas of the West Bank.
Jarrar, a senior official of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, had been released last March by the IOF following 20 months in jail.
In a separate incident, the IOF stormed and ransacked the home of prisoner Samer al-Arbeed from Battn al-Hawa neighborhood in Ramallah.
Arabeed has been accused of being behind the bombing incident that happened in Ein Bubin area in the west of Ramallah and resulted in the death of a Jewish settler and the injury of two others.
The IOF also kidnaped Palestinian writer and ex-detainee Ali Jaradat from his home in Ramallah city.
Two citizens called Ward Abdo and Ammar Sabah were taken prisoners during an IOF campaign in the Ramallah villages of Kafr Ni'ma and Umm Safa.
In Bethlehem, the IOF kidnaped three young men from their homes in Aida refugee camp.
In Jerusalem, Israeli police forces kidnaped last night a Palestinian kid called Mohamed Kulaib 14, from a street in Issawiya district.
Jarrar, a senior official of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, had been released last March by the IOF following 20 months in jail.
In a separate incident, the IOF stormed and ransacked the home of prisoner Samer al-Arbeed from Battn al-Hawa neighborhood in Ramallah.
Arabeed has been accused of being behind the bombing incident that happened in Ein Bubin area in the west of Ramallah and resulted in the death of a Jewish settler and the injury of two others.
The IOF also kidnaped Palestinian writer and ex-detainee Ali Jaradat from his home in Ramallah city.
Two citizens called Ward Abdo and Ammar Sabah were taken prisoners during an IOF campaign in the Ramallah villages of Kafr Ni'ma and Umm Safa.
In Bethlehem, the IOF kidnaped three young men from their homes in Aida refugee camp.
In Jerusalem, Israeli police forces kidnaped last night a Palestinian kid called Mohamed Kulaib 14, from a street in Issawiya district.
30 oct 2019
Israeli soldiers abducted, overnight until early morning hours Wednesday, eighteen Palestinians, including a child and three siblings, in several parts of the occupied West Bank, after the soldiers stormed and searched dozens of homes, the Palestinian Prisoners’ Society (PPS) has reported.
The PPS office in Hebron governorate, in southern West Bank, said the soldiers abducted five Palestinians, identified as Riyadh Ahmad al-Jawa’da, Mohammad Rifat Sleibi, Fadi Ibrahim Shahin, and his brothers Dour and Shadi.
In Bethlehem, south of occupied Jerusalem, the soldiers abducted Khalil Qassem Sheikh and Qassem Taleb Sheikh, from Marah Rabah village, in addition to Nader Shalabi al-Qaisi and Montaser Nawwaf al-Qaisi, from the al-Azza refugee camp.
In Ramallah and al-Biereh governorate, in central West Bank, the soldiers abducted Rabea’ Farah Abu Nawwas, 28, and Mustafa Taiseer, from Deir Abu Mashal town, in addition to Mohammad Issa Hussein, from al-Mazra’a al-Gharbiyya.
In occupied Jerusalem, the soldiers abducted Yazan Ibrahim Marar, Tareq Issa Hussein, Mousa Ali Hussein, and Sa’id Mustafa Daoud, from Beit Doggo town, in addition to Mohammad Jawad Abu Ramouz, 14, and Majdi Abu Tayeh, from Silwan town.
The PPS office in Hebron governorate, in southern West Bank, said the soldiers abducted five Palestinians, identified as Riyadh Ahmad al-Jawa’da, Mohammad Rifat Sleibi, Fadi Ibrahim Shahin, and his brothers Dour and Shadi.
In Bethlehem, south of occupied Jerusalem, the soldiers abducted Khalil Qassem Sheikh and Qassem Taleb Sheikh, from Marah Rabah village, in addition to Nader Shalabi al-Qaisi and Montaser Nawwaf al-Qaisi, from the al-Azza refugee camp.
In Ramallah and al-Biereh governorate, in central West Bank, the soldiers abducted Rabea’ Farah Abu Nawwas, 28, and Mustafa Taiseer, from Deir Abu Mashal town, in addition to Mohammad Issa Hussein, from al-Mazra’a al-Gharbiyya.
In occupied Jerusalem, the soldiers abducted Yazan Ibrahim Marar, Tareq Issa Hussein, Mousa Ali Hussein, and Sa’id Mustafa Daoud, from Beit Doggo town, in addition to Mohammad Jawad Abu Ramouz, 14, and Majdi Abu Tayeh, from Silwan town.
Israeli soldiers abducted, late on Tuesday evening, eight Palestinians, including one child, in the al-‘Isawiya town, and one in Silwan, in occupied East Jerusalem.
The Wadi Hilweh Information Center in Silwan (Silwanic) said the soldiers assaulted in al-Isawiya several young men with batons and pepper-spray, causing various cuts and bruises.
Silwanic added that the soldiers also invaded and ransacked many stores, causing damage, before forcing many shops to close, and abducted the owners.
It stated that the soldiers abducted Moath al-Ajlouni, Morad al-Ajlouni, Ahmad Asfour, Saed Abu Sneina, ‘Abboud Abu Sneina, Mahmoud Abu Sneina and Hazem al-Qassas.
All the abducted Palestinians were as assaulted by the soldiers and suffered cuts and bruises.
In addition, the soldiers abducted a child, identified as Abdullah Da’na 15, while standing in front his home in al-‘Isawiya. video
Furthermore, a young man, identified as Ahmad Ala Sweidan, 20, was abducted from his home in Silwan.
In addition, the Israeli police released one of the civilian guards of the al-Aqsa Mosque, who was abducted earlier in the day.
The guard, Ehab Abu Ghazala, was taken prisoner for filming large groups of soldiers and colonialist settlers who stormed the courtyards of the holy site and conducted provocative tours in Bab ar-Rahma Mosque in Al-Aqsa Compound.
In related news, the army issued orders preventing Ramzi Obeisan from entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque for two weeks, after summoning him for interrogation, Monday.
The Palestinian was initially abducted on the first day of Al-Adha Muslim feast this past August, after the police assaulted him, causing fractures in his foot, when they accompanied dozens of illegal colonists in a provocative tour into the holy site’s compound.
The Wadi Hilweh Information Center in Silwan (Silwanic) said the soldiers assaulted in al-Isawiya several young men with batons and pepper-spray, causing various cuts and bruises.
Silwanic added that the soldiers also invaded and ransacked many stores, causing damage, before forcing many shops to close, and abducted the owners.
It stated that the soldiers abducted Moath al-Ajlouni, Morad al-Ajlouni, Ahmad Asfour, Saed Abu Sneina, ‘Abboud Abu Sneina, Mahmoud Abu Sneina and Hazem al-Qassas.
All the abducted Palestinians were as assaulted by the soldiers and suffered cuts and bruises.
In addition, the soldiers abducted a child, identified as Abdullah Da’na 15, while standing in front his home in al-‘Isawiya. video
Furthermore, a young man, identified as Ahmad Ala Sweidan, 20, was abducted from his home in Silwan.
In addition, the Israeli police released one of the civilian guards of the al-Aqsa Mosque, who was abducted earlier in the day.
The guard, Ehab Abu Ghazala, was taken prisoner for filming large groups of soldiers and colonialist settlers who stormed the courtyards of the holy site and conducted provocative tours in Bab ar-Rahma Mosque in Al-Aqsa Compound.
In related news, the army issued orders preventing Ramzi Obeisan from entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque for two weeks, after summoning him for interrogation, Monday.
The Palestinian was initially abducted on the first day of Al-Adha Muslim feast this past August, after the police assaulted him, causing fractures in his foot, when they accompanied dozens of illegal colonists in a provocative tour into the holy site’s compound.
29 oct 2019
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Monday evening kidnaped four Palestinian young men from Qalqilya city in the West Bank and one child in Jerusalem.
According to local sources, some Israeli soldiers stationed at the military gate in the west of Qalqilya stormed the area between al-Naqqar neighborhood and the separation wall and rounded up four young men
Two of the detainees were identified as Adem Dawoud and Laith Ridwan.
In Jerusalem, Israeli police forces stormed as-Sawaneh neighborhood and kidnaped 16-year-old Ahmed Qadmani from his home.
According to local sources, some Israeli soldiers stationed at the military gate in the west of Qalqilya stormed the area between al-Naqqar neighborhood and the separation wall and rounded up four young men
Two of the detainees were identified as Adem Dawoud and Laith Ridwan.
In Jerusalem, Israeli police forces stormed as-Sawaneh neighborhood and kidnaped 16-year-old Ahmed Qadmani from his home.
28 oct 2019
Israeli soldiers invaded, Monday, Thaher al-Maleh village, isolated behind the illegal Annexation Wall, west of the northern West Bank city of Jenin, and demolished a wall of a local school.
Omar al-Khatib, the mayor of Thaher al-Maleh, told the Palestinian News & Info Agency (WAFA), that a large military force, accompanied by armored bulldozers, invaded the area surrounding the Tahadi 17 School, and declared it a closed zone.
He added that the soldiers forcibly removed the Palestinians from the area and demolished a section of one of its external walls.
It is worth mentioning that the school is subject to frequently military invasions, in addition to various violations against the children, staff, and families.
Salam Taher, the principal of the school, denounced the Israeli violations and Israel’s constant breaching of various international and human rights treaties.
She added that the ongoing Israeli invasions and violation against many schools in the area, and across the West Bank, are clearly aimed at obstructing the educational process, and are made against facilities that are supposed to provide not only education but also a safe environment for them.
Omar al-Khatib, the mayor of Thaher al-Maleh, told the Palestinian News & Info Agency (WAFA), that a large military force, accompanied by armored bulldozers, invaded the area surrounding the Tahadi 17 School, and declared it a closed zone.
He added that the soldiers forcibly removed the Palestinians from the area and demolished a section of one of its external walls.
It is worth mentioning that the school is subject to frequently military invasions, in addition to various violations against the children, staff, and families.
Salam Taher, the principal of the school, denounced the Israeli violations and Israel’s constant breaching of various international and human rights treaties.
She added that the ongoing Israeli invasions and violation against many schools in the area, and across the West Bank, are clearly aimed at obstructing the educational process, and are made against facilities that are supposed to provide not only education but also a safe environment for them.
26 oct 2019
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) at dawn Saturday kidnaped three Palestinian citizens, including two children, during a campaign in different areas of al-Khalil city.
Local sources reported that the IOF stormed the neighborhood of al-Harayek and al-Tahrir rotary in al-Khalil, and kidnaped two kids from their homes, adding that the IOF also ransacked some commercial stores in those areas.
The IOF also stormed Sanjar suburb between Dura town and al-Khalil city, raided homes and rounded up a young man called Waseem Yousef, according to the local sources.
Several homes were ransacked in the Old City of al-Khalil during the IOF campaign, with no reported arrests.
Local sources reported that the IOF stormed the neighborhood of al-Harayek and al-Tahrir rotary in al-Khalil, and kidnaped two kids from their homes, adding that the IOF also ransacked some commercial stores in those areas.
The IOF also stormed Sanjar suburb between Dura town and al-Khalil city, raided homes and rounded up a young man called Waseem Yousef, according to the local sources.
Several homes were ransacked in the Old City of al-Khalil during the IOF campaign, with no reported arrests.
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