Updates

Administrative Detention

Mahmoud a-Sarsak, imprisoned in Israel for about 3 years, is in danger of death after some 80 days of hunger strike

Mahmoud a-Sarsak, age 25, a resident of the Rafah refugee camp in southern Gaza, has been imprisoned by Israel for the last three years under the Internment of Unlawful Combatants Law of 2002. Physicians for Human Rights-Israel report that a-Sarsak, who has been on a hunger strike for some 80 days, has lost a great deal of weight and that his life is in imminent danger.

5 June 2012

Settler Violence = State Violence

Video: Yitzhar settlers burn crops, shoot and injure a Palestinian in the presence of Israeli soldiers

On Saturday (26 May 2012) dozens of Israeli settlers from the Yitzhar settlement invaded lands of the Palestinian village, ‘Urif in the northern West Bank. According to video documentation and field observations, the settlers threw stones and set fire to wheat fields and olive groves in a number of locations, causing large fires that burned wheat and olive groves. Youths from the Palestinian village came to put out the fires, and some of them also threw stones at the settlers. Some twenty settlers accompanied by about five armed members of the Yitzhar settlement security squad charged a group of Palestinian youths who had confronted them. The settlers fired live ammunition injuring a Palestinian man. All of these events took place in the presence of dozens of Israeli soldiers.

27 May 2012

General

Uri Zaki Addresses the 12th Annual Doha Forum

B’Tselem USA Director Uri Zaki joined fellow experts on policy in Syria, Libya, Israel, and the occupied territories this week on a panel at the “Enriching the Middle East’s Economic Future Conference,” also known as the 12th Doha Forum. The panel addressed minority affairs in Middle Eastern countries.

24 May 2012

Settler Violence = State Violence

Ta’ayush video: Settler attacks B’Tselem field researcher while soldiers watch

Earlier this week, on the afternoon of 21 May 2012, settlers attacked a group of Palestinian farmers harvesting on their land near the Mitzpe Yair outpost. One settler lifted a sickle from the ground and brandished it threateningly at B’Tselem field researcher Nasser Nawaj’ah, who was present, then grabbed Nawaj’ah’s camera and smashed it. The soldiers standing nearby did nothing to prevent the attack. B’Tselem submitted a complaint to the Judea and Samaria district police.

22 May 2012

General

L’Dor V’Dor: The Legacy of 45 years of Military Occupation

A discussion with Yael Dayan, daughter of Gen. Moshe Dayan**NEW: Special performance by David BrozaForty-five years separate us from those six days in June 1967 which forever shifted the course of Israeli society. Please join Yael Dayan and Uri Zaki, Director of B’Tselem USA, as they discuss the human rights concerns inevitable in a situation of prolonged occupation, reflecting on Israel¹s past and prospects for a secure and peaceful future.Sunday, June 3rd, 2012, 7-9 pmCongregation Beit Simchat Torah57 Bethune St., New York, NY 10014RSVP NOW

21 May 2012

No Accountability

B’Tselem appeals closing of investigation into death of Firas Qasqas

On 16 May 2012, on behalf of B’Tselem, Attorney Gabi Lasky filed an appeal with the State Attorney against the decision by the Central District Attorney’s Office to close the file on the fatal shooting of Firas Qasqas by reserve-duty soldiers some four years ago. The appeal was submitted after an examination of the material from the investigation into this case revealed concrete evidence that necessitates an indictment for the negligent shooting of Qasqas, and that therefore, the decision to close the case is unreasonable and should be reversed.

21 May 2012

Settler Violence = State Violence

Video: settlers firing at Palestinians in the presence of soldiers

On Saturday, 19.5.2012, settlers descended on the eastern outskirts of the village 'Asira al-Qibliya, from the settlement Yitzhar. B'Tselem volunteer photographers filmed the events. The video shows the settlers throwing stones at Palestinian homes. Palestinian youths from the village soon arrived and threw stones at the settlers. The video later shows settlers aiming their weapons at the Palestinians and firing in the presence of soldiers. The firing injured village resident, Fathi 'Asayira, 24, in the head.

20 May 2012

East Jerusalem

Jerusalem Day: Alternative Voices

In June 2011, B’Tselem and the Guardian produced "East Jerusalem: Six Voices". A project in which six Palestinians and Israelis were given cameras to create video diaries of their lives, under the shadow of the settlement enterprise in occupied East Jerusalem. The diaries offer a glimpse into the impact of the volatile reality on their lives.

20 May 2012

Detainees & Prisoners

Five years without visits – Will family visits be renewed for prisoners from Gaza?

This morning (15 May 2012), the media reported that an agreement was reached between Israel and representatives of the Palestinian prisoners held in Israel, following a hunger strike that lasted some six weeks. One of the demands of the strikers was the resumption of family visits for the prisoners from Gaza, which were stopped in 2007. The ongoing denial of the rights of prisoners and detainees from Gaza to received family visits is a very serious blow to their right to family life.

15 May 2012

Home Demolition as Collective Punishment

B'Tselem to Attorney General: do not allow home demolition of relatives of Fogel Family murderers

B'Tselem has written to the Israeli Attorney General, Adv. Yehuda Weinstein, requesting him to reject the Israel Security Agency (ISA) recommendation to demolish the 'Awarta homes of the families of Amjad and Hakim Awad, who murdered five members of the Fogel family in March 2011. B'Tselem Executive Director Jessica Montell wrote that the attack carried out by Amjad and Hakim Awad is shocking and horrifying. Nothing about that attack, however, makes harming their relatives, who were never found guilty of involvement of any kind, legal or moral.

10 May 2012

Administrative Detention

Two hunger strikers near death after 70 days

Israel’s High Court of Justice today (7.5.2012) rejected appeals by Bilal Diab and Thaer Halahlah against their continuing administrative detention, ruling that a hunger strike cannot be a factor in determining the duration of detention. This follows a report from Physicians for Human Rights-Israel that both prisoners are near death. The two prisoners began their strike on 1 March 2012 to protest the renewal of their detention. Both are now hospitalized at Assaf Harofeh Hospital in Rishon LeZion. Israel’s use of administrative detention blatantly contravenes international law; the army must release all administrative detainees or give them a fair trial.

9 May 2012

No Accountability

No closure in killing of 21 Gaza family members

The al-Samouni case only illustrates the broader problem regarding the military’s ability to examine itself. Shirking responsibility for the deaths of hundreds of civilians and the widespread devastation caused by Cast Lead demonstrates yet again the need for an Israeli investigation mechanism that is external to the army.

8 May 2012

No Accountability

Army closes investigation into the killing of 21 members of the a-Samuni family in Gaza

The MAG Corps informed B'Tselem today that it has closed the Military Police investigation file in the complaint into the killing of 21 members of the a-Samuni family in the Gaza Strip. The file was closed without taking any measures against those responsible. In response, Adv. Yael Stein, B'Tselem's head of research, said: it is unacceptable that no one is found responsible for an action of the army that led to the killing of 21 uninvolved civilians, inside the building they entered under soldiers' orders, even if this was not done deliberately. The way the army has exempted itself of responsibility for this event, even if only to acknowledge its severity and clarify its circumstances, is intolerable.

1 May 2012

Beating and Abuse

Soldiers in civilian clothing shot Palestinians who mistook them for robbers, killing one

On the night of 27 March 2012, soldiers in civilian clothing entered Kafr Ramun near Ramallah. B’Tselem has learned that three brothers from the village, thinking they were being robbed, came outside armed with a club and two knives to defend their property and were shot by the soldiers. Uniformed soldiers who came to the scene during the incident, also shot two of the brothers, who were already wounded. One brother died of his wounds and the other two sustained injuries. B’Tselem demanded an investigation into this incident and was informed Today, 24 April 2012, that an investigation was ordered by the MAG corps

24 April 2012

Open-Fire Policy

More tear gas canisters shot at human targets, army denials notwithstanding

On Friday, 9 March 2012, B’Tselem documented two serious incidents of tear gas canisters fired directly at demonstrators in two West Bank locations. Despite ample documentation that tear gas canisters are aimed and launched directly at people, the authorities continue to deny it.

22 April 2012

Beating and Abuse

New documentation of the assault on protesters refutes claims they acted violently

A new film that was obtained by B'Tselem shows the minutes that preceded the violent incident in which the Former Jordan Valley Brigade deputy commander assaulted international and Palestinian protesters. In response, B'Tselem Executive Director Jessica Montell, said: "The video disproves claims that the soldiers responded to violence by the activists. This severe case of violence illustrates the sense of impunity felt by the deputy brigade commander. In fact Israeli security forces are almost never held accountable for violence against Palestinians."

22 April 2012

The Gaza Strip

Hamas executes three people in Gaza

On 12 April 2012, the Hamas authorities in Gaza executed three Palestinians sentenced to death by Gaza courts. Since the Hamas takeover of Gaza, 32 people have been sentenced to death, and ten people have been executed. B’Tselem condemns the use of capital punishment as immoral and a violation of the right to life. Regardless of the crime, such punishment has no place on the law books.

17 April 2012

Economic & Social Rights

Testimony: ISA prevents young man with rare disease from traveling to East Jerusalem for treatment

Kamel a-Taramsi, age 24, has acromegaly, a rare endocrine disease. Following years of misdiagnoses, a-Taramsi was finally referred to al-Makassed Hospital in East Jerusalem for treatment unavailable in Gaza. A-Taramsi got a permit to leave Gaza and travel to East Jerusalem but when he arrived at Erez crossing, the ISA subjected him to a lengthy interrogation without regard for his condition, and threatened him with arrest. A-Taramsi was ultimately released, but not allowed to travel to East Jerusalem. He has since been unable to obtain the required permit.

5 April 2012

General

Tired of Being Depicted as the Wicked Child?

Are you tired of your uncle depicting you as the “wicked child” at the Passover Seder table just because you are willing to ask the tough questions about human rights in Israel and the occupied territories? The answer is not to become the “silent child.”

5 April 2012

Demonstrations

Investigate death, injuries from live firing during Land Day demonstrations in Gaza

B’Tselem wrote to the Military Police and the Military Advocate General Corps requesting they launch a Military Police Investigation into the death of a Palestinian demonstrator and the wounding of dozens of others when live ammunition was used against protesters during a Land Day demonstration in the Gaza Strip on Friday, 30 March 2012.

5 April 2012

Hebron City Center

Israeli army evacuates new settlement point in Hebron

On 29 March 2012 dozens of settlers took over a building’s third floor in the Old City of Hebron. On 2 April 2012 the army issued an evacuation order instructing the settlers to leave by the following morning. On 4 April 2012 the security services evacuated the new settlement and sealed the entrances. Since then, the army has placed a guard on the building. The settlement points in Hebron were created in violation of international law and seriously interfere with the human rights of the Palestinian residents. Hence, Israel is legally and morally obliged to evacuate the Hebron settlers and return them to its own territory.

3 April 2012

General

Upcoming B'Tselem USA Events

Uri Zaki will speak at Harvard University on April 17, 2012 at 5:30 pm. Please click above for additional information.

1 April 2012