23 oct 2016

Israeli military police opened an internal probe on Friday into the killing of 15-year-old Khalid Bahr Ahmad Bahr, who was shot and killed by Israeli forces on Thursday in Beit Ummar in the southern occupied West Bank, after soldiers claimed he was among a group of youths throwing rocks at Israeli soldiers, an Israeli army spokesperson told Ma'an.
According to Israeli newspaper Haaretz, the probe will look into whether the soldiers responsible for Khalid's death followed procedure in accordance with the army’s “open-fire regulations,” which state that “soldiers should not shoot to kill unless they are in an immediate and clear danger.”
An Israeli army spokesperson said at the time of Khalid's killing that soldiers were "attacked" by Palestinian youth throwing rocks at Israeli soldiers while they were patrolling the area near Beit Ummar. The spokesperson said one soldier was "lightly wounded' by a rock and called one of the young Palestinian suspects to "halt," fired warning shots in the air, and then fired "towards the suspect, resulting in his death."
Local reports claimed that the teenager was shot by Israeli forces in the back, with the bullet exiting through his chest.
Local activist Muhammad Ayyad Awad also told Ma’an that Israeli soldiers had prevented a Palestinian Red Crescent ambulance from approaching the youth, while witnesses said that Israeli forces refused to provide CPR to the youth after he was shot.
Khalid became the 235th Palestinian to be killed by Israeli soldiers and settlers since a wave of violence spread across the occupied Palestinian territory and Israel in October 2015.
Rights groups have routinely condemned Israeli authorities for their use of excessive force against Palestinians, particularly minors, during incidents that did not warrant a violent response, with a report released recently by Palestinian NGO BADIL warning of an increasing trend of Israeli forces targeting Palestinian youth with live fire.
Israeli authorities have also dramatically escalated their crackdown on Palestinian youth who are caught throwing rocks, with Israel passing a law last year setting sentences up to 20 years in prison for stone throwing if intent to harm could be proven, and a minimum prison sentence of three years for throwing a stone at an Israeli.
However, Palestinians have claimed that rock throwing by teenagers is a natural reaction to frustrations caused by the nearly half century Israeli military occupation of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, which has been shaped by everyday forms of violence, such as nightly military raids into Palestinian communities, arbitrary detentions, home demolitions, and frequent killings of Palestinians by Israeli forces.
According to Israeli newspaper Haaretz, the probe will look into whether the soldiers responsible for Khalid's death followed procedure in accordance with the army’s “open-fire regulations,” which state that “soldiers should not shoot to kill unless they are in an immediate and clear danger.”
An Israeli army spokesperson said at the time of Khalid's killing that soldiers were "attacked" by Palestinian youth throwing rocks at Israeli soldiers while they were patrolling the area near Beit Ummar. The spokesperson said one soldier was "lightly wounded' by a rock and called one of the young Palestinian suspects to "halt," fired warning shots in the air, and then fired "towards the suspect, resulting in his death."
Local reports claimed that the teenager was shot by Israeli forces in the back, with the bullet exiting through his chest.
Local activist Muhammad Ayyad Awad also told Ma’an that Israeli soldiers had prevented a Palestinian Red Crescent ambulance from approaching the youth, while witnesses said that Israeli forces refused to provide CPR to the youth after he was shot.
Khalid became the 235th Palestinian to be killed by Israeli soldiers and settlers since a wave of violence spread across the occupied Palestinian territory and Israel in October 2015.
Rights groups have routinely condemned Israeli authorities for their use of excessive force against Palestinians, particularly minors, during incidents that did not warrant a violent response, with a report released recently by Palestinian NGO BADIL warning of an increasing trend of Israeli forces targeting Palestinian youth with live fire.
Israeli authorities have also dramatically escalated their crackdown on Palestinian youth who are caught throwing rocks, with Israel passing a law last year setting sentences up to 20 years in prison for stone throwing if intent to harm could be proven, and a minimum prison sentence of three years for throwing a stone at an Israeli.
However, Palestinians have claimed that rock throwing by teenagers is a natural reaction to frustrations caused by the nearly half century Israeli military occupation of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, which has been shaped by everyday forms of violence, such as nightly military raids into Palestinian communities, arbitrary detentions, home demolitions, and frequent killings of Palestinians by Israeli forces.
20 oct 2016

Israeli forces shot and killed a 15-year-old Palestinian near the Beit Ummar junction in the northern part of the village of Beit Ummar in the occupied West Bank district of Hebron on Thursday evening. Israeli authorities have claimed an Israeli soldier shot the teenager dead in response to a rock-throwing incident.
Local activist Muhammad Ayyad Awad told Ma'an that he saw the body of a young Palestinian on the ground near the entrance of Beit Ummar. The young Palestinian, later identified as Khalid Bahr Ahmad Bahr, 15, was reportedly shot by Israeli forces in the back, with the bullet exiting through his chest.
An Israeli army spokesperson told Ma'an that soldiers were "attacked" by Palestinian youths throwing rocks at Israeli soldiers while they were patrolling the area near Beit Ummar. The spokesperson said one soldier was "lightly wounded' by a rock and called one of the young Palestinian suspects to "halt," fired warning shots in the air, and then "towards the suspect, resulting in his death."
The spokesperson added that the incident was "under investigation."
Awad also said that Israeli soldiers prevented a Palestinian Red Crescent ambulance from approaching the youth, while witnesses said that Israeli forces refused to provide CPR to the youth after he was shot.
Israeli forces transferred Bahr's body to an unknown location. However, Awad later said that Israeli authorities had informed the mayor of Beit Ummar that Bahr's body would be returned on Friday after prayers for "investigations." If Awad's claim of the teen being shot in the back is upheld, it could cast doubts on the Israeli army's version of events that Israeli forces were responding to an "attack."
Hebrew media reported that another Palestinian youth was detained during the incident.
Bahr became the 235th Palestinian to be killed by Israeli soldiers and settlers since a wave of violence spread across the occupied Palestinian territory and Israel in October 2015.
Rights groups have routinely condemned Israeli authorities for their use of excessive force against Palestinians, including minors, during incidents that did not warrant a violent response.
Israeli authorities have also dramatically escalated their crackdown on Palestinian youth who are caught throwing rocks at Israeli soldiers, detaining hundreds of Palestinians for alleged stone throwing every year. Israeli rights group B'Tselem reported that from 2005 to 2010, "93 percent of the minors convicted of stone throwing were given a prison sentence, its length ranging from a few days to 20 months."
Palestinian stone throwers face harsh penalties by Israeli authorities, with Israel passing a law last year setting sentences up to 20 years in prison for stone throwing if intent to harm could be proven, and a minimum prison sentence of three years for throwing a stone at an Israeli.
However, Palestinians have claimed that rock throwing by teenagers represents a natural reaction to the frustrations caused by the nearly half century Israeli military occupation of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, which has been shaped by everyday forms of violence, such as nightly military raids into Palestinian communities, arbitrary detentions, home demolitions, and frequent killings of Palestinians by Israeli forces.
Local activist Muhammad Ayyad Awad told Ma'an that he saw the body of a young Palestinian on the ground near the entrance of Beit Ummar. The young Palestinian, later identified as Khalid Bahr Ahmad Bahr, 15, was reportedly shot by Israeli forces in the back, with the bullet exiting through his chest.
An Israeli army spokesperson told Ma'an that soldiers were "attacked" by Palestinian youths throwing rocks at Israeli soldiers while they were patrolling the area near Beit Ummar. The spokesperson said one soldier was "lightly wounded' by a rock and called one of the young Palestinian suspects to "halt," fired warning shots in the air, and then "towards the suspect, resulting in his death."
The spokesperson added that the incident was "under investigation."
Awad also said that Israeli soldiers prevented a Palestinian Red Crescent ambulance from approaching the youth, while witnesses said that Israeli forces refused to provide CPR to the youth after he was shot.
Israeli forces transferred Bahr's body to an unknown location. However, Awad later said that Israeli authorities had informed the mayor of Beit Ummar that Bahr's body would be returned on Friday after prayers for "investigations." If Awad's claim of the teen being shot in the back is upheld, it could cast doubts on the Israeli army's version of events that Israeli forces were responding to an "attack."
Hebrew media reported that another Palestinian youth was detained during the incident.
Bahr became the 235th Palestinian to be killed by Israeli soldiers and settlers since a wave of violence spread across the occupied Palestinian territory and Israel in October 2015.
Rights groups have routinely condemned Israeli authorities for their use of excessive force against Palestinians, including minors, during incidents that did not warrant a violent response.
Israeli authorities have also dramatically escalated their crackdown on Palestinian youth who are caught throwing rocks at Israeli soldiers, detaining hundreds of Palestinians for alleged stone throwing every year. Israeli rights group B'Tselem reported that from 2005 to 2010, "93 percent of the minors convicted of stone throwing were given a prison sentence, its length ranging from a few days to 20 months."
Palestinian stone throwers face harsh penalties by Israeli authorities, with Israel passing a law last year setting sentences up to 20 years in prison for stone throwing if intent to harm could be proven, and a minimum prison sentence of three years for throwing a stone at an Israeli.
However, Palestinians have claimed that rock throwing by teenagers represents a natural reaction to the frustrations caused by the nearly half century Israeli military occupation of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, which has been shaped by everyday forms of violence, such as nightly military raids into Palestinian communities, arbitrary detentions, home demolitions, and frequent killings of Palestinians by Israeli forces.

Khalid Ahmed Bahar 15
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) shot and killed on Thursday evening a Palestinian young man at the entrance to Beit Ummar town north of al-Khalil.
Israeli sources said that Israeli soldiers opened fire at a Palestinian youngster after their military vehicle was allegedly subjected to a stone-throwing attack.
The sources added that an Israel soldier was slightly injured during the alleged stone-throwing attack.
Israeli forces prevented Palestinian ambulance crews from approaching the youth after he was shot.
Following the shooting attack, Israeli forces closed all entrances to Beit Ummar town and were deployed in large numbers throughout the area.
The PIC reporter pointed out that violent clashes broke out following the incident.
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) shot and killed on Thursday evening a Palestinian young man at the entrance to Beit Ummar town north of al-Khalil.
Israeli sources said that Israeli soldiers opened fire at a Palestinian youngster after their military vehicle was allegedly subjected to a stone-throwing attack.
The sources added that an Israel soldier was slightly injured during the alleged stone-throwing attack.
Israeli forces prevented Palestinian ambulance crews from approaching the youth after he was shot.
Following the shooting attack, Israeli forces closed all entrances to Beit Ummar town and were deployed in large numbers throughout the area.
The PIC reporter pointed out that violent clashes broke out following the incident.