Last week two Palestinians died in
Hebron as a result of clashes with local Israel Defence Forces (IDF).
Monday, 21 September 2015, a
21-year-old Palestinian man was killed during an Israeli raid near the southern
Hebron village of Khursa. His name was Diyaa Abdul-Halim Talahmah. According to
the Palestinian medical sources he was shot to death, while the Israeli army
claims that Diyaa died when an explosive device intended to be thrown at the Israeli
forces, exploded in his hands.
Tuesday morning, 22 September 2015,
at around 7:45 A.M., Israeli soldiers shot and killed a Palestinian woman at the “Shoter” checkpoint
(known as checkpoint 56), marking the border between the Palestinian controlled
(H1) and Israeli controlled (H2) part of Hebron city. Her name was Hadeel
al-Hashlamoun, a 18-year-old student who was on her way to school.
B'Tselem investigation: No justification for multiple bullets that killed Hadil al-Hashlamun in Hebron
She was shot inside the checkpoint at the other side of the metal bar by multiple bullets. An action which has been described as "disproportionately" by B'Tselem and as an "extrajudicial execution" by Amnesty International.
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| Hebron, H2, Israeli soldiers shot and killed 18-year-old Hadeel al-Hashlamoun inside Checkpoint 56 |
B'Tselem investigation: No justification for multiple bullets that killed Hadil al-Hashlamun in Hebron
She was shot inside the checkpoint at the other side of the metal bar by multiple bullets. An action which has been described as "disproportionately" by B'Tselem and as an "extrajudicial execution" by Amnesty International.
According to Palestinian media, Hadeel
was shot in her stomach, bleeding to death after lying on the ground for nearly
30 minutes with out action from soldiers who prevented Palestinians medics from
helping her.
According to the Israeli military, Hadeel
was shot in her legs after refusing to leave the area. The soldiers called her
to stop when the metal detector sounded when she was walking through the checkpoint,
and fired several warning shots as she continued. Then, “she pulled out a
knife, and that’s when they fired shots at her legs”.
Wednesday, 30 September 2015, at around 7:00 A.M., I was monitoring exactly at the same checkpoint where children have to pass through to reach school and where Hadeel was shot just eight days ago.
Whatever the circumstances, from a
human rights perspective there is no justification for the extensive use of
force when not strictly necessary and without respect for human rights. In this
context, Israeli soldiers have a vital role in the protection of the right to
life, liberty and security of the Palestinian people as guaranteed in the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights. However, these basic principles are broken
when Israeli forces are raiding Palestinian villages or are using deadly force
by shooting civil citizens to death.
Maybe Diyaa was not killed if he
was not carrying an explosive device, or if Israeli forces didn’t raid his village.
Maybe Hadeel was not shot, if she was
not wearing a Niqab, which might have aroused suspicion among the soldiers. Or
if some other soldiers who might not have feel threaten were on duty that
morning.
No matter what, the Israeli forces
should endeavour to apply non-violent means when dealing with civilians and avoid the use of force and
firearms to maintain protection of security and the right to life, in accordance
with international human rights.
DIGNITY IN LIFE
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Hebron, H1, stun grenade at Checkpoint 56
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Hebron, H2, Checkpoint 56
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