Ben-Gvir needs to be brought to the ICC asap
Israel’s attorney general warns Ben-Gvir against ‘illegal interference’
Gali Baharav-Miara has written a letter telling the national security minister to stay out of the case of an Israeli police officer who is being questioned over the shooting of a Palestinian teen, according to a report by The Times of Israel.
The rebuke came after Ben-Gvir turned up at the Department of Internal Police Investigations (DIPI) in a show of solidarity with the police officer, who allegedly shot a 13-year-old Palestinian dead while he was playing with fireworks earlier today.
Ben-Gvir issued a public statement calling the officer’s questioning “outrageous” and “disgraceful”.
In her address to Ben-Gvir, Baharav-Miara emphasised that “criminal investigations, including those of police officers, are conducted with complete independence”. “Any intervention by you, directly or indirectly, violates the law … this should be stopped immediately,” Baharav-Miara said.
Ben-Gvir shows support for Israeli officer accused of killing Palestinian boy
Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has arrived at the Department of Internal Police Investigations (DIPI) to support a police officer set to be questioned over the killing of 13-year-old Rami El Halhuli, who was shot in the chest while playing with fireworks near the Shu’fat refugee camp in the occupied West Bank.
“It is outrageous to me that DIPI even dared to invite the fighter here for questioning, it is shameful and disgraceful,” Ben-Gvir was quoted by The Times of Israel as saying in a video posted on X. “A terrorist sets off fireworks and wants to harm our soldiers, our fighters, and shoots the fireworks … A fighter comes and does exactly what we expect from him. This is simply the biggest scandal – that they summon him here and bring him for questioning,” he said in the video, shot in front of the DIPI premises.
He claimed that the teenager had shot fireworks “directly” at Israeli security forces despite video footage showing the fireworks being shot into the air. He praised the officer for “doing exceptional work” and criticised the DIPI for “destroying Israeli deterrence”.
Palestinians denounce Israeli executions in occupied West Bank
The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs says the executions are further proof that Israel wants to escalate tensions during the holy month of Ramadan. “In 24 hours, the Israeli occupation has killed six Palestinians, including children. These are war crimes and crimes against humanity according to international law,” it says in a statement.
“The political and military echelon has enabled soldiers and settlers to shoot at Palestinian citizens who do not endanger them in any way. It is obvious that this escalation is proof that the governing coalition is adding fuel to the fire to expand the cycle of violence.”
Another night of violence across the occupied West Bank
Israeli forces have withdrawn from Jenin after a night of raids that started shortly after 2am. Israeli forces moved into the refugee camp, where some confrontations took place with Palestinian fighters. At least two Palestinians were killed, raising the death toll in overnight raids to five. Israeli bulldozers wreaking havoc on infrastructure of Jenin city, in the West Bank. pic.twitter.com/Z0zsaw3Tpo
Health officials identified the two men as Rabi’ al-Noursi and Mahmoud Abu al-Heija. Footage shared online shows bulldozed roads, destroyed homes and downed electric poles as well as burst water pipes.
According to a Quds news report, verified by Al Jazeera, an Israeli military force opened fire towards Jenin Government Hospital. Israeli soldiers targeted a group of citizens standing in front of the hospital’s emergency department, injuring a number of them. Two of them succumbed to their wounds later.
This is the third day of Ramadan. Palestinians were hoping for a ceasefire in Gaza but instead, all they’re seeing is these intensive Israeli raids that forces say are intended to carry out arrests. Palestinians will tell you that Israel uses lethal force in those raids, especially when people are going about their daily lives.
We’ve seen some pictures coming out of Jenin where Israeli bulldozers are damaging the streets, the infrastructure, electricity and water. Palestinians in Jenin are telling us that they feel that Israeli forces want to make their lives more difficult, they want to remind them that there is a bigger power in case anyone thinks about doing something that is seen as resistance against the Israeli occupation.
Palestinian teenager killed after alleged stabbing attack
The 15-year-old accused of carrying out a stabbing attack at a Jerusalem checkpoint has died after being shot by Israeli forces, according to Israeli police. The suspected attacker allegedly stabbed a military police soldier and a security guard at the checkpoint, before being fired on by a military official.
Two people hospitalised after Bethlehem checkpoint stabbing
The stabbing attack took place at a checkpoint several kilometres southwest of the city centre, quite close to Bethlehem, on the road travelling into Jerusalem. An Israeli police spokesperson said the alleged attacker was “neutralised”.
A 19-year-old and a 25-year-old were brought to a hospital here in Jerusalem for treatment for minor to moderate stab injuries, according to Israeli medical services. This is the second stabbing incident at the same checkpoint since the start of the war on Gaza. The last was in November when five people were wounded.
Palestinians from Gaza describe abuse in Israeli detention: Report
The Wall Street Journal has published a report based on interviews with former detainees from Gaza held by Israel who recounted instances of physical assault and abuse. Some were forced to kneel for up to 20 hours a day, sometimes with their hands tied above their heads, according to the report.
Baha Abu Rukba, 24, was released near a Gaza crossing after being held for nearly three weeks. He was in pain and struggling to walk after being hit repeatedly with rifle butts and kicked in the groin.
The report confirms the findings of Israeli and Palestinian organisations, including Physicians for Human Rights and Addameer, as well as reports by Al Jazeera and other media outlets detailing the systematic abuse of Palestinians in Israeli prisons and the disappearance of Gaza workers stranded in Israel and the West Bank as crossings closed after the October 7 attacks.
Decision to prepare Israeli prisons for more Palestinians a ‘dangerous escalation’
Muthafar Thouqan, coordinator of the committee to support Palestinian prisoners, says Netanyahu’s order to prepare jails for an influx of thousands of inmates is part of an Israeli plan to take in more detainees from Rafah but also the occupied West Bank.
“Not only does it affect the morale of detainees – as it causes overcrowding and spread of diseases – it also shows there are premeditated intentions to invade Rafah, which is housing more than 1.5 million people,” Thouqan told Al Jazeera.
On Sunday, we reported that Netanyahu ordered government ministries to prepare prisons for more detainees. According to the Israel Prison Service, the number of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails has risen to about 9,000.
Thouqan says 12 Palestinians have died in detention since October 7 “due to torture and medical neglect”.
Since October 7, a total of 430 Palestinians, including 115 children and three women, have been killed in the occupied West Bank by Israeli army and settler attacks, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health and the Palestinian Prisoner’s Society.
Israeli forces have also jailed at least 7,530 Palestinians during that time.
