| B'Tselem

On 16 May 2012, on behalf of B’Tselem, Attorney Gabi Lasky filed an appeal with the State Attorney against the decision by the Central District Attorney’s Office to close the file on the fatal shooting of Firas Qasqas by reserve-duty soldiers some four years ago. The appeal was submitted after an examination of the material from the investigation into this case revealed concrete evidence that necessitates an indictment for the negligent shooting of Qasqas, and that therefore, the decision to close the case is unreasonable and should be reversed.

On Saturday, 19.5.2012, settlers descended on the eastern outskirts of the village 'Asira al-Qibliya, from the settlement Yitzhar. B'Tselem volunteer photographers filmed the events. The video shows the settlers throwing stones at Palestinian homes. Palestinian youths from the village soon arrived and threw stones at the settlers. The video later shows settlers aiming their weapons at the Palestinians and firing in the presence of soldiers. The firing injured village resident, Fathi 'Asayira, 24, in the head.

In June 2011, B’Tselem and the Guardian produced "East Jerusalem: Six Voices". A project in which six Palestinians and Israelis were given cameras to create video diaries of their lives, under the shadow of the settlement enterprise in occupied East Jerusalem. The diaries offer a glimpse into the impact of the volatile reality on their lives.

This morning (15 May 2012), the media reported that an agreement was reached between Israel and representatives of the Palestinian prisoners held in Israel, following a hunger strike that lasted some six weeks. One of the demands of the strikers was the resumption of family visits for the prisoners from Gaza, which were stopped in 2007. The ongoing denial of the rights of prisoners and detainees from Gaza to received family visits is a very serious blow to their right to family life.

B'Tselem has written to the Israeli Attorney General, Adv. Yehuda Weinstein, requesting him to reject the Israel Security Agency (ISA) recommendation to demolish the 'Awarta homes of the families of Amjad and Hakim Awad, who murdered five members of the Fogel family in March 2011. B'Tselem Executive Director Jessica Montell wrote that the attack carried out by Amjad and Hakim Awad is shocking and horrifying. Nothing about that attack, however, makes harming their relatives, who were never found guilty of involvement of any kind, legal or moral.

Israel’s High Court of Justice today (7.5.2012) rejected appeals by Bilal Diab and Thaer Halahlah against their continuing administrative detention, ruling that a hunger strike cannot be a factor in determining the duration of detention. This follows a report from Physicians for Human Rights-Israel that both prisoners are near death. The two prisoners began their strike on 1 March 2012 to protest the renewal of their detention. Both are now hospitalized at Assaf Harofeh Hospital in Rishon LeZion. Israel’s use of administrative detention blatantly contravenes international law; the army must release all administrative detainees or give them a fair trial.

The MAG Corps informed B'Tselem today that it has closed the Military Police investigation file in the complaint into the killing of 21 members of the a-Samuni family in the Gaza Strip. The file was closed without taking any measures against those responsible. In response, Adv. Yael Stein, B'Tselem's head of research, said: it is unacceptable that no one is found responsible for an action of the army that led to the killing of 21 uninvolved civilians, inside the building they entered under soldiers' orders, even if this was not done deliberately. The way the army has exempted itself of responsibility for this event, even if only to acknowledge its severity and clarify its circumstances, is intolerable.

The al-Samouni case only illustrates the broader problem regarding the military’s ability to examine itself. Shirking responsibility for the deaths of hundreds of civilians and the widespread devastation caused by Cast Lead demonstrates yet again the need for an Israeli investigation mechanism that is external to the army.

On the night of 27 March 2012, soldiers in civilian clothing entered Kafr Ramun near Ramallah. B’Tselem has learned that three brothers from the village, thinking they were being robbed, came outside armed with a club and two knives to defend their property and were shot by the soldiers. Uniformed soldiers who came to the scene during the incident, also shot two of the brothers, who were already wounded. One brother died of his wounds and the other two sustained injuries. B’Tselem demanded an investigation into this incident and was informed Today, 24 April 2012, that an investigation was ordered by the MAG corps

On 12 April 2012, the Hamas authorities in Gaza executed three Palestinians sentenced to death by Gaza courts. Since the Hamas takeover of Gaza, 32 people have been sentenced to death, and ten people have been executed. B’Tselem condemns the use of capital punishment as immoral and a violation of the right to life. Regardless of the crime, such punishment has no place on the law books.

B'Tselem has championed human rights in the West Bank and Gaza Strip for over two decades, promoting a future where all Israelis and Palestinians will live in freedom and dignity.

B’Tslem appeals closing of investigation into death of Firas Qasqas

Video: settlers firing at Palestinians in the presence of soldiers

Jerusalem Day: Alternative Voices

Five years without visits – Will family visits be renewed for prisoners from Gaza?

B'Tselem to Attorney General: do not allow home demolition of relatives of Fogel Family murderers

Two hunger strikers near death after 70 days

Army closes investigation into the killing of 21 members of the a-Samuni family in Gaza

No closure in killing of 21 Gaza family members

Soldiers in civilian clothing shot Palestinians who mistook them for robbers, killing one

Hamas executes three people in Gaza

Media

Topics

Most viewed