A senior US official said that US President Joe Biden's administration is concerned about the recent rise in violence in the occupied West Bank and Israel, calling on both sides to de-escalate and move away from the cycle of violence.
The official, who asked not to be named, said about the Human Rights Watch report released last Sunday, in which the organization said that the Israeli occupation authorities are killing Palestinian children in cold blood and without any accountability, that his government is aware of the said report and that it urges both sides to work to avoid violence that kills innocent citizens, and to create an atmosphere that serves the pursuit of a two-state solution.
It is noteworthy that Human Rights Watch said in its latest report issued on Sunday, August 27, that: “Since the beginning of 2023, at least 34 Palestinian children have been killed in cold blood by the Israeli army without any accountability in the cities of the occupied West Bank.”
Based on its monitoring of the situation in the West Bank, Human Rights Watch documented a number of killings carried out by the Israeli occupation army against Palestinian children.
According to the report, “the Israeli army deliberately used excessive force against Palestinians, including children, in circumstances where the use of lethal force is not justified under international standards.”
Human Rights Watch stressed that "at least 614 Palestinians classified by the United Nations as civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank were killed by the army over the course of 15 years."
However, only three soldiers were convicted of killing Palestinians, and all were given short sentences, according to the Israeli organization Yesh Din.
The killings took place in a context in which the Israeli occupation authorities committed crimes against humanity represented in apartheid and persecution of Palestinians, including children, as documented by Human Rights Watch.
In its report, the organization indicated that "the Security Council authorized the Secretary-General of the United Nations to prepare a list of military forces and armed groups responsible for grave violations against children in armed conflicts between 2015 and 2022."
Human Rights Watch added that the United Nations indicated that 8,700 Palestinian children were injured by Israeli forces, but Israel was excluded from the list.
Human Rights Watch noted that the Israeli army does not automatically open criminal investigations into cases in which soldiers use lethal force against Palestinians in the West Bank, even if a complaint is filed.
Human Rights Watch confirmed that international human rights standards prohibit law enforcement officials from the "intentional use of lethal firearms" except in cases where "it is unavoidable to protect life."
Bill Van Esveld, co-director of the group's children's rights division, said in a press statement that the rate of killing of Palestinian children by the army has risen dramatically, warning that more children will be killed if Israel remains without any accountability.
"Unless Israel's allies, especially the United States, pressure Israel to change course, more Palestinian children will be killed," Esveld said.
He stressed that "Palestinians in the (occupied) West Bank must enjoy protection under the Geneva Conventions and international human rights law; and governments must ensure effective remedies for individuals to claim their rights, including the right to life."
He called on the Israeli military to end the unlawful use of lethal force against Palestinians, including children, and called on the Israeli government to issue clear public and confidential directives to all forces prohibiting the deliberate use of excessive force.
