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Israel investigating 24 cases of shootings of Palestinians since October

August 11, 2016 at 3:20 pm

Israeli authorities opened 24 criminal investigations into incidents resulting in the death or injury of Palestinians by its armed forces in the West Bank and Israel between October 2015 and June 2016.

The Israeli office of the Attorney General confirmed the data in a letter to UN OCHA dated July 15.

Of these investigations, so far only one has led to the indictment and prosecution of a soldier – the case of the extrajudicial execution of a suspected Palestinian assailant in Hebron, caught on video.

The Attorney General said that another 142 cases have been “examined”, with authorities determining that in half (71) of these cases “no additional legal or disciplinary proceedings were required.” The other 71 cases are “still under review or awaiting a decision about follow up.”

UN OCHA notes that “in October 2015, Israeli forces killed nine Palestinian civilians and injured another 237 during clashes near Gaza’s perimeter fence”, but that “none of these cases have led to the opening of criminal investigations.”

By way of context, UN OCHA states that “the number of casualties among West Bank Palestinians (145 fatalities and over 14,000 injuries) in 2015 was the highest since [records began in] 2005.”

Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported Wednesday that incidents under investigation include the killing of 13-year-old Abed al-Rahman Obeidallah in Aida refugee camp, as well as 13-year-old Haitham Saada, shot dead in February near Halhul.

The paper stated that the Military Police are also “investigating the killing of Mahmoud Badran, 15, who was shot by soldiers in June” when he was travelling with his family near Route 443.