onsdag den 30. september 2015

No justification for executions of civilians

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.

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

Hebron, H1, stun grenade at Checkpoint 56

       Hebron, H2, Checkpoint 56 

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