Excessive Use of Force, Israeli Forces Kill Palestinian

In Excessive Use of Force, Israeli Forces Kill Palestinian Civilian in al-Duheisha Refugee Camp, South of Bethlehem

On Tuesday morning, 24 February 2015, in excessive use of force, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian civilian in al-Duheisha refugee camp, south of Bethlehem. Israeli forces moved into the refugee camp to arrest a number of Palestinians and opened fire at a number of Palestinian youngsters who gathered and threw stones and empty bottles at the soldiers.

According to investigations conducted by the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR), at approximately 01:30 on the abovementioned day, Israeli forces backed by military vehicles moved into al-Duheisha refugee camp, south of Bethlehem, to arrests a number of Palestinians. A number of Palestinian youngsters gathered and threw stones, empty bottles and fireworks at Israeli soldiers, who opened fire at the youngsters and houses. As a result, 19-year-old Jihad Shehada Abdullah al-Ja'fari sustained a bullet wound to the right shoulder. He was wounded at approximately 03:40, but he was admitted to al-Yamama Hospital in al-Khader village, southwest of Bethlehem, at approximately 04:10. He was transported to the hospital by an ambulance of Palestine Red Crescent Society. A medical source at the abovementioned hospital stated that al-Ja'fari was admitted to the hospital dead. Eyewitnesses said that he was on the roof of his family house, which overlooks the main street in the refugee camp, and that he was shot by Israeli soldiers positioned on the other side of the street, opposite to the house.

PCHR appreciates the step taken by the Palestinian Attorney-General to refer the corpse of al-Ja'fari to Abu Dees Forensic Institute upon the request of his family to document the Israeli crimes. Al-Ja'fari's father said that the family made that request to document the Israeli crimes and attacks on Palestinian civilians. It should be noted that the deceased was a cookery student at Talitha Kumi Community College in Beit Jala.

PCHR is deeply concerned over this crime, which further proves the use of excessive force by Israeli forces against Palestinian civilians, in disregard for the civilians’ lives. Therefore, PCHR calls upon the international community to take immediate and effective actions and reiterates its call for the High Contracting Parties to the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfill their obligations under Article 1; i.e., to respect and to ensure respect for the Convention in all circumstances, and their obligation under Article 146 to prosecute persons alleged to commit grave breaches of the Fourth Geneva Convention. These grave breaches constitute war crimes under Article 147 of the same Convention and Protocol (I) Additional to the Geneva Conventions.

ENDS

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