On the Agenda

New B’Tselem report out today: Whitewash Protocol: The So-Called Investigation of Operation Protective Edge. The report describes Israel’s charade of investigating alleged breaches of law during the operation, in which 1,391 people, including 526 minors, who did not participate in the fighting were killed. While the decision makers who are truly responsible for the violations were never investigated, the military’s investigations focus on the responsibility of lower ranks for isolated “exceptional cases”, ignoring the fact that scores more nearly identical cases ended with horrifying outcomes. The MAG’s stand, which absolves himself of responsibility and allows decision makers to repeatedly ignore these outcomes is illegal and immoral.

On Aug. 16, a sniper shot four Two-Two bullets, seriously wounding Muhammad al-‘Amis, who was standing on his rooftop during the raid on al-Fawwar RC. Snipers killed another man in the camp and injured more than 30, all using Two-Two bullets. In recent years, the military has followed a policy that sanctions live fire at stone-throwers, even when there is no mortal danger. In this case, even this illegal policy was exceeded, with soldiers firing four bullets at a man who was not throwing stones or posing any other danger, almost killing him.

On 26 Aug. 2016, soldiers shot and killed Iyad Hamed, 36, near a military observation tower close to the village of Silwad. The military initially claimed Hamed had fired at the tower, but changed the story several times eventually claiming that the soldiers fired shots into the air. B'Tselem’s research revealed that Hamed, whose functioning was limited, had attempted to open a fence blocking a road. The soldiers shot him in the back as he was leaving the area. Past experience and the Defense Minister’s comments on the incident make it highly unlikely that anyone will be held accountable for his killing.

In a raid on al-Fawwar Refugee Camp on 16 Aug. 2016, Palestinian youths threw stones at soldiers. One of them, Abu Hashhash went home and then came out again, at which point a military sniper positioned in a nearby home shot him. B’Tselem found that Abu Hashhash was killed by 0.22-inch bullets, which are officially permitted for use only in case of mortal danger but have been used as a crowd control measure by the military in recent years even without such danger, resulting in five Palestinians killed and hundreds injured since March 2015.

On 10 Aug. 2016 there was a fight between Palestinian and settler children in Hebron. After Israeli Border Police forces broke it up, they brought in five Palestinian boys - at least two below the age of criminal responsibility - for an improvised lineup by a settler boy. This was partially captured on video by an ISM volunteer. The Border Police also took an 8-year-old from his home in the middle of the night and the police sought to interrogate him alone. The immense efforts to locate Palestinians suspected of harming settlers contrast sharply with the near absence of action to protect Palestinians from violence by settlers, or to uphold the rights of Palestinian children.

B’Tselem complains to Israel Police about its conduct in three attempts made by B’Tselem volunteer, ‘Imad Abu Shamsieyh, who filmed an Israeli soldier killing a Palestinian, to file a complaint regarding threats he has received on Facebook. Abu Shamsiyeh got sent back and forth and on the last time, threatened with arrest if he did not leave the station. Adv. Gaby Lasky wrote to the police on behalf of B’Tselem and Abu Shamsiyeh, saying the officers had committed disciplinary offenses and abused their power.

Yesterday (Wednesday, 31 August 2016), military and Civil Administration forces arrived in the afternoon in the community of Badiw a-Mu’arrajat to the northwest of Jericho. The forces dismantled and confiscated three residential caravans, a shack used for raising livestock, and mobile toilet facilities. All the structures were donated to the families by a humanitarian aid organization after the Israeli authorities demolished their homes on 4 August 2016. The destruction left 14 people homeless, including three minors.

On 29 August 2016, Israeli forces came to Ma’azi Jaba’, a community to the northeast of Jerusalem. The forces demolished four homes belonging to three families, as well as three animal pens, leaving 28 people homeless, including 19 minors. Since the start of 2016, the Israeli authorities have demolished 203 homes around the West Bank, leaving 823 people homeless, including 432 minors. This demolition campaign highlights Israel’s increased efforts since the beginning of 2016 to displace Palestinians from Area C.

In late July Israeli security forces killed Muhammad al-Faqih who was suspected of perpetrating a shooting attack. His pregnant widow, Hadil al-Faqih, was staying with her parents. A week after he was killed troops came to her parents’ home. She told B’Tselem that the female soldier who frisked her was so violent she became worried about the baby she is carrying. The reason for the nighttime search is unclear, but the incident raises grave suspicion that it was meant to harass and intimidate the widow and her family. Such conduct is utterly inexcusable.

Approximately 1.8 million people live in the Gaza Stripת, where the economic situation is on the verge of collapse. International aid organizations have addressed this reality for years, displaying tireless commitment in extremely difficult conditions. Any use of funds intended for humanitarian aid to support violence is illegal and is an extremely grave matter. Even if the defendants are found guilty – at present they should benefit from the presumption of innocence – this will not detract from the importance, integrity, and dedication of international humanitarian organizations assisting residents of the Gaza Strip.

Since 2010, Israel has severely restricted access to the Palestinian village of Beit Iksa, which lies northwest of Jerusalem, in order to prevent Palestinians from entering Jerusalem. Instead of building the Security Barrier along the Green Line in the area, Israel has chosen to deny villagers a normal routine, resulting in severe effects on employment, education, basic services and communal ties. The choice to impose these draconian measures reflects absolute prioritization of Israeli interests over the protection of local residents’ rights.

This month, Israel demolished 20 homes and 13 other structures in Palestinian communities throughout the West Bank, leaving 53 people – including 25 minors – homeless. In 2016, thus far, Israel has demolished 188 Palestinian homes on grounds of “lack of permit”, the highest number since 2006. This is part of an Israeli policy to step up demolitions, implemented although Israel is formally engaged in “structured dialogue” on the matter with the European Union and despite recent international condemnation in the Quartet Report.