Updates

No Accountability

Shooting at the car carrying Mahmoud Badran was deliberate, entirely unjustified and a direct result of military policy

On Tues. night, June 21, soldiers shot and killed Mahmoud Badran, 15, from Beit Ur a-Tahta and wounded four of his friends. B’Tselem research shows that, contrary to the military’s version, the…

22 June 2016

Agriculture

Civil Administration demolishes two family’s homes in mid-Ramadan

Today, Sunday, 19 June 2016, Civil Administration and military forces came to the Palestinian community of Wadi Ejheish, which is known as “south Susiya” as it lies some five kilometers south of the…

19 June 2016

Attacks on Israeli Civilians by Palestinians

Four Israeli civilians killed in shooting attack in Tel Aviv Sarona Market; 8 other people injured

Yesterday evening, two Palestinians went on a shooting spree at Sarona Market in Tel Aviv, killing four Israeli civilians: Ido Ben Ari, 42, Ilana Naveh, 39, Michael Feige, 58; and Mila Mishaev, 32…

9 June 2016

The Gaza Strip

Hamas authorities execute 3 men in Gaza

On 31 May 2016 Hamas authorities executed 3 Gazans it convicted of murder: Ahmad Shurab, 43; Yusef Abu Shamleh, 38; and Muhammad ‘Othman 28. Since Hamas seized control of Gaza, 67 people have been…

7 June 2016

No Accountability

Testimonies: Prior to incident for which Elor Azaria is facing charges, Ramzi al-Qasrawi was also executed

Testimonies to B’Tselem indicate that during the Mar. 24 incident in which a soldier executed ‘Abd al-Fatah a-Sharif, an action for which he is now standing trial, Ramzi al-Qasrawi was also executed…

6 June 2016

Communities Facing Expulsion

Civil Administration confiscates 7 pre-fabs at community of Wadi al-Qatif, rendering 26 people homeless

Yesterday, 5 June 2016, Civil Administration and Border Police forces arrived at the Wadi al-Qatif (Satah al-Bahar) community, which is located along Route No. 1 between the settlement of Mitzpe…

6 June 2016

Area C

Reality check: Almost fifty years of occupation

The occupation is 49 years old. That’s 17,898 days. International law defines occupation as a temporary situation, but after nearly 50 years the reality in the West Bank and Gaza can no longer be…

5 June 2016

Harassment

Soldiers gather children in Hebron neighborhood, photograph them and release them

On 24 May 2016, dozens of soldiers went through Jaber neighborhood, Hebron. They assembled about 20 children and teens against a wall, asked them about a stone-throwing incident earlier that day…

2 June 2016

Agriculture

375 Palestinians, more than half of them minors, temporarily displaced due to military training in Jordan Valley

On 26 May ‘16, the Civil Administration notified 58 families from 5 Palestinian communities in the northern Jordan Valley that due to military training in the area, they must leave home for varying…

1 June 2016

Economic & Social Rights

Stores in al-Birah, Area A, ruined after security forces cause fire and leave, delaying Palestinian firefighters

In April 2016, Israeli forces blew up a safe in a money-changing store in al-Birah, Area A, having refused to let the owner’s son open it for them. This caused a fire that destroyed several stores and…

30 May 2016

No Accountability

B’Tselem will no longer refer complaints to the Israeli military law enforcement system, which serves as a whitewash mechanism

Today, B’Tselem announced it would no longer refer complaints to the military’s law enforcement system. We explain this unusual decision in our new report, The Occupation's Fig Leaf: Israel's Military…

25 May 2016

Area C

Civil Administration dismantles and confiscates trailers which were home to 49 people, northeast of Jerusalem

On Monday, 16 May 2016, a large force of Civil Administration and Border Police personnel arrived in the Badu al-Baba community, near al-‘Eizariyah, northeast of Jerusalem. The forces dismantled and…

18 May 2016

Economic & Social Rights

My Own Private Gaza - Reinventing Electricity

What do you do when there’s no electricity or access to advanced technology? Enterprise, innovation and ingenuity try to fill the void. Khaled al-‘Azayzeh, a B’Tselem field researcher in the Gaza…

16 May 2016

No Accountability

Unwarranted killings at Qalandia Checkpoint: Systemic legitimization of a trigger-happy approach continues to claim lives

On 27 April 2016 a brother and sister were shot dead as they approached Qalandia Checkpoint. The sister was apparently carrying a knife. B’Tselem’s investigation indicates they were killed without…

9 May 2016

Beating and Abuse

Three days of unchecked abuse: Israeli soldiers severely abuse six Gazan detainees, incl. three minors

On 10 October 2015, soldiers arrested six Gazan youths who crossed the perimeter fence into Israel during a demonstration and held them at a military base for three days. Three of them, minors, told B…

8 May 2016

Hebron City Center

Settlers assaulted a Palestinian videographer in Hebron, wounding him in the head, while soldiers looked on

Yesterday (4 May) Raed Abu a-Rmeileh, a former B’Tselem camera volunteer, and two friends were assaulted by settlers when Abu a-Rmeileh tried to film them harassing two girls with a dog. He was hit on…

5 May 2016

Economic & Social Rights

Int'l Workers' Day 2016: Desperate to make a living in Gaza

Nine years have passed since Israel began its blockade on Gaza, paralyzing the job market in an area inhabited by two million people. The right to work and make a decent living are both basic human…

5 May 2016

Economic & Social Rights

Military effectively shutting down Palestinian quarries in Beit Fajjar to aid de facto annexation of area

In March 2016, Israeli forces shut down operations in several Palestinian quarries in Beit Fajjar, near Bethlehem, assaulting laborers and confiscating essential equipment. According to quarry owners…

21 April 2016

Home Demolition as Collective Punishment

Massive collective punishment: homes of 149 Palestinians suspected of no wrongdoing demolished since Oct. 2015; hundreds more under threat

Since Oct. 2015, Israel has demolished or sealed 37 homes to punish relatives of Palestinians who attacked Israelis or were suspected of such attacks, leaving 149 people homeless, including 65 minors…

21 April 2016

Agriculture

7 April 2016: Extensive demolitions in communities facing expulsion; fourth demolition this year in Kh. Tana, Jordan Valley

On 7 April 2016, Israeli authorities carried out extensive demolitions in six Palestinian communities in the West Bank, five near the Ma’ale Adummim settlement and one, Khirbet Tana, in the Jordan…

10 April 2016

No Accountability

Closing case against Col. Shomer integral part of whitewash mechanism which is the military investigative system

The MAG announced his decision to close the case against OC Binyamin Regional Brigade Col. Shomer. The officer had shot and killed ‘Ali-Kosba, 17, with three bullets to the upper body, after the…

10 April 2016

Agriculture

Three days of destruction: Civil Administration demolishes 10 structures in South Hebron Hills and Wadi al-Qalt

More demolitions this morning in the Jordan Valley and Ma’ale Adumim Area. Wave of demolitions, today, Apr. 7, in several West Bank communities including E1 and repeat demolitions in Khirbet Tana in…

7 April 2016

Economic & Social Rights

Israeli security forces demolish four families’ homes, punishing 28 people, including 6 minors, for actions of persons no longer alive

Security forces recently demolished 4 apartments of relatives of Palestinians who perpetrated, or were suspected of perpetrating or aiding in attacks against Israelis, after the HCJ dismissed…

5 April 2016

Harassment

B’Tselem to military and police commanders: Protect B’Tselem volunteer who documented Hebron shooting

B’Tselem director wrote yesterday to OC Central Command and Chief of Police informing them of death threats made against ‘Imad Abu Shamsiyeh, the B’Tselem volunteer who filmed the incident in which a…

31 March 2016