Israel continues its lethal open-fire policy in the West Bank: B’Tselem
The Israeli rights group has released its findings for November 2023, which showed that Israel’s lethal open-fire policy in the West Bank led to the killing of 116 Palestinians, 25 of them under the age of 18.
Of the November casualties, 43 were killed when they threw stones, set off firecrackers or burned tyres, the group found. However, more than half of them – 23 – were not taking part in any clashes themselves, but only watching or passing by. “One Palestinian was killed while harvesting olives, and a Palestinian minor was killed after throwing an empty bottle at a settlement gate,” the group said. Another 51 November casualties were killed in exchanges of fire or immediately after, 31 of them in air raids – including three minors, one 12 and two 14 years old, and 28 armed operatives, B’Tselem said.
‘Shocking spike’ in unlawful lethal force by Israeli forces against Palestinians
Amnesty International has released a statement in which it describes “a brutal wave of violence” against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank by Israeli forces since October 7. It states that Israeli forces have carried out unlawful killings, including by using lethal force and without necessity or disproportionately during protests and arrest raids.
“These unlawful killings are in blatant violation of international human rights law and are committed with impunity in the context of maintaining Israel’s institutionalized regime of systematic oppression and domination over Palestinians,” said Erika Guevara-Rosas, Amnesty International’s director of global research, advocacy and policy.
The NGO’s research also found that Israeli forces blocked medical assistance to people with life-threatening injuries and attacked paramedics among others who attempted to help the injured Palestinians.
At least 507 Palestinians were killed in the West Bank in 2023, including at least 81 children, making it the deadliest year for Palestinians since the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) began recording casualties in 2005. Between 7 October and 31 December 2023, 299 Palestinians were killed, marking a 50% increase compared to the first nine months of the year. At least 61 further Palestinians, including 13 children, have been killed so far in 2024 as of 29 January, according to OCHA.
Palestinian teen killed by Israeli forces in occupied West Bank identified
The Palestinian teenager killed by Israeli troops while allegedly trying to carry out a stabbing attack near the occupied West Bank settlement of Maale Adumim has been identified as Wadee’ Shadi Owaisat. The 14-year-old was from the occupied East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Jabal Mukaber.
Israeli forces prevented ambulance crews from reaching Owaisat after shooting him, and he bled to death. His death brings the total number of Palestinians killed in the occupied West Bank this year to 63.
