A new report from Human Rights Watch (HRW) highlights alarming levels of unlawful killings of Palestinians by Israeli forces in the West Bank, occurring without fear of consequences from the Israeli government.
HRW’s research, focusing on eight cases between July 2022 and October 2023, reveals instances where Israeli forces either wrongfully shot or deliberately executed Palestinians who posed no security threat.
One disturbing incident documented in the report occurred in Jenin, where Israeli forces repeatedly shot a wounded man as he crawled on the ground. Another tragic case involved the fatal shooting of a 15-year-old in Tulkarem, followed by the firing upon his unarmed father as he attempted to retrieve his son’s body. Footage reviewed by HRW indicated that neither the father nor the son posed any threat.
Richard Weir, HRW’s senior crisis and conflict researcher, condemned the Israeli government’s permissive and discriminatory practices regarding the use of force. He emphasized that such actions contribute to the broader context of apartheid and structural violence faced by Palestinians daily.
Weir asserted that as long as systemic repression of Palestinians persists, unlawful killings in the West Bank will continue unabated. The report underscores the urgent need for accountability and an end to impunity for such violations.