The international organization "Human Rights Watch" stated on Monday that the Israeli army and the so-called "Border Police" are killing Palestinian children without any accountability.
According to the organization, last year in 2022, was the bloodiest year for Palestinian children in the West Bank in 15 years, and the current year 2023 continues at the same pace or may even surpass the numbers of the previous year. Israeli forces have killed at least 34 Palestinian children in the West Bank until August 22nd this year.
The organization published its investigations into four shooting incidents that resulted in the killing of Palestinian children by Israeli forces between November 2022 and March 2023.
Bill Van Esveld, the Associate Director for Children's Rights at Human Rights Watch, stated: "Israeli forces are killing Palestinian children living under occupation at an increasing rate. Unless Israel's allies, especially the United States, press Israel to change course, more Palestinian children will be killed."
During the documentation of the four killing incidents, Human Rights Watch researchers conducted personal interviews with seven witnesses, nine family members, other residents, lawyers, doctors, and field workers from Palestinian and Israeli human rights organizations. They reviewed surveillance cameras, videos posted on social media, data from Israeli security agencies, medical records, and news reports.
Human Rights Watch investigated the case of Mahmoud al-Saadi (17 years old), who was killed by Israeli forces while walking to school near the Jenin refugee camp on November 21st, 2022. The Israeli army did not specifically address his killing, but stated that their forces were conducting arrests in the camp, leading to an exchange of fire with Palestinian fighters. However, the closest exchange of fire occurred in a presumed militant's house about 320 meters away from where Mahmoud was shot, according to the residents' statements.
The report adds that Mahmoud was standing by the roadside, waiting for the distant sounds of gunfire to stop. He was not carrying any weapons or projectiles, according to a witness and a surveillance camera video viewed by Human Rights Watch. After the gunfire ceased and Israeli forces withdrew, Mahmoud was hit by a single shot fired from an Israeli military vehicle located about 100 meters away. The witness claimed there were no Palestinian fighters in the area. Mahmoud was killed near the same street where Israeli forces killed journalist Shireen Abu Akleh on May 11th, 2022.
In the other cases investigated, security forces killed boys after they joined other youths who were confronting Israeli forces with stones, Molotov cocktails, or fireworks. While these projectiles can cause serious injuries or death, Israeli forces repeatedly fired at chest level, hitting several children. These children were killed in situations where they did not appear to pose a threat of serious injury or death, which is the standard for the use of lethal force by law enforcement under international standards. This renders these killings unlawful.
Mohammed Salim (17 years old) was shot in the back while fleeing from Israeli soldiers after a group of his friends threw stones and reportedly Molotov cocktails at military vehicles that entered a village near his hometown of Azoun in the northern West Bank. Three other children were also shot with live ammunition while escaping.
An Israeli sniper fired at Wadi Abu Ramouz (17 years old) from behind as he was with a group of young men pelting Border Police vehicles with stones and fireworks in East Jerusalem around 10 PM on January 25th, 2023, according to two witnesses. Another boy in the group was injured. Security forces handcuffed Wadi to his hospital bed, beat him, denied his relatives access to him, and held his body for months after his death. His family was required to bury him quietly at night.
The report states: In all cases, Israeli forces fired at the upper parts of the children's bodies without issuing warnings or using less lethal means such as tear gas, sound grenades, or rubber bullets, according to eyewitnesses.
Title: Palestinian Children at Risk: Israeli Use of Lethal Force Raises Concerns
Subtitle: Human Rights Organizations Call for Accountability
In a tragic incident on January 3rd, 15-year-old Adam Ayyad was fatally shot from behind in the Dheisheh refugee camp by Israeli forces. The incident occurred as a group of boys were throwing stones and at least one Molotov cocktail towards Israeli forces. Witnesses reported that the sniper also fired at a 13-year-old boy, injuring him.
According to the Israeli newspaper "Haaretz," as of December 2021, soldiers were permitted to use live ammunition against Palestinians who were throwing stones or Molotov cocktails. This change in rules prompted concerns about excessive use of force.
Human Rights Watch contacted the Israeli army and police on August 7th to inquire about four cases and rules of engagement. The military prosecutor's office declined to answer questions about the killings without Human Rights Watch providing a legal agency for each case. However, they indicated they would address engagement rules in the future.
Israeli police guidelines allow the use of firearms against individuals who are throwing stones, Molotov cocktails, or fireworks only if there is an "imminent risk to life or bodily integrity." The police responded that they couldn't provide information on the case of Wadi' Abu Ramuz as it was still under investigation.
Israeli authorities have a history of using excessive force against Palestinians during security operations, often evading accountability for violations, including those involving children. According to Israeli human rights organization "Yesh Din," less than 1% of complaints about Israeli forces' violations against Palestinians between 2017 and 2021 resulted in indictments.
During this period, Israeli security forces killed at least 614 Palestinians classified as civilians by the United Nations in Gaza and the West Bank. However, only three soldiers were convicted for Palestinian deaths, and they received short sentences of community service.
Human rights organizations, including "B'Tselem," have accused the Israeli legal system of facilitating impunity for the military's actions. The killings occur within a context where Israeli authorities commit crimes against humanity, such as apartheid and persecution against Palestinians, including children.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) initiated an investigation in 2021 into serious crimes committed in Palestine, including violations against children. The ICC Prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, launched the official inquiry.
The stigma associated with being on the "List of Shame" is significant. Listed entities must implement reform plans to end violations before their names are removed.
Human Rights Watch stated that the United Nations missed an opportunity to protect children by not including Israel on the list. The UN Secretary-General is urged to use objective criteria in composing the 2023 list.
The UN's annual reports from 2015 to 2022 attributed over 8,700 child casualties to Israeli forces, yet Israel has never been included on the list. Reports have repeatedly shown other forces causing significantly fewer child casualties than Israel.
Foreign governments, like the United States, which pledged $3.8 billion in military aid to Israel in 2023, are urged to tie aid to concrete steps by Israel to end its severe violations, including crimes against humanity. They should support legislation that restricts U.S. funding from being used for military detention, attacks, or the destruction of Palestinian children's rights living under Israeli occupation.
