Calls for international investigation in to Israel’s killing of Palestinian with learning difficulties

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry has called for the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate Israel’s targeting of a Palestine who had learning difficulties.

Twenty-two-year-old Muhammad Habali  was killed by the Israeli occupation forces in Tulkarm city of occupied West Bank in the early hours of yesterday morning in what the ministry has said amount to an extrajudicial execution.

A refugee in Tulkarm refugee camp, Muhammad had learning difficulties which limiting his ability to reason. Video shared on social media appears to show Muhammad being shot in the back when he posed no threat to occupation forces who had stormed the camp.

Israel’s targeting of Palestinians does not take in to account the threat they cause or any mental or physical disabilities they may suffer. In 2016 occupation forces killed Oraif Jaradat who was born with Down Syndrome. His father died 40 days after his son.

No soldier was charged with Oraif’s murder and Israel has closed the investigation in to the event. The family is appealing against the decision.

READ: ‘I did nothing to harm Israel,’ says child shot by sniper. ‘I only raised the flag’

In December last year the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein said he was “truly shocked” at the killing of a wheelchair-bound Palestinian amputee by Israeli occupation forces in the besieged Gaza Strip.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs Riyad Al-Malki met ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda today in The Hague during the 17th session of the Assembly of States Parties, and highlighted the Muhammad’s case. Al-Malki also urged the prosecutor for speedy investigations in to the continuous crimes committed by the occupation against the Palestinian people.