Updates

The Gaza Strip

Three Palestinians executed in Gaza

B'Tselem strongly condemns the execution on Tuesday, 18 May, of three Palestinians convicted of serious criminal offences, including murder and rape, by the Hamas government in Gaza. The death penalty is immoral and violates the basic right to life of every human being. B’Tselem holds that under no circumstance must it be imposed.

20 May 2010

Deportation

Stop West Bank deportation policy

Israeli and Palestinian human rights organizations issued a joint statement today calling on Israel to stop its illegal policy of deporting Palestinians from the West Bank to Gaza. The policy has escalated, as evident from an order effective April 13, defining anyone present in the West Bank without an Israeli permit as an "infiltrator".

13 May 2010

East Jerusalem

High Court approves harmful route of Separation Barrier near Sheikh Sa'ed

The High Court of Justice recently approved part of the Separation Barrier's route in the Jerusalem area. The route will separate Sheikh Sa’ed from its parent village, Jabel Mukaber, where its residents receive many of their services, and will result in grave infringement of the villagers' human rights.

5 May 2010

Area C

A license to loot: the Derekh Ha'avot outpost

On 25 April '10, the State Attorney's Office informed the High Court of Justice that the state is considering approval of the Derekh Ha'avot outpost, established in 2001 near the Elazar settlement in the Etzion Bloc. Residents of al-Khader claim that the outpost was established on farmland belonging to them. The state’s position sanctions looting of land and the ongoing and cumulative building violations in this outpost and in all the other settlements.

5 May 2010

Harassment

Testimony: Mother and newborn baby held outside in the cold

According to the testimony of Nancy Hamdiya, on 3 March '10, soldiers came at night to her home in al-Yamun, Jenin District and took her outside with her four small children, including a 5-day-old baby, and her husband. The soldiers kept them in the bitter cold for three hours and searched their house, destroying property.

29 April 2010

Settler Violence = State Violence

Settler fires at Palestinians near soldiers

On 26 Feb. '10, during a joint protest by Palestinians and Israelis in 'Asira al-Qibliya, Nablus District, a settler fired at the demonstrators although they posed no danger to him. Soldiers who were present did nothing to stop the firing or arrest him.

29 April 2010

The Gaza Strip

Youth killed in demonstration against Gaza "death zones"

A Palestinian youth, Ahmad Sliman Salem Dib, 19, died on 28 April after Israeli security forces shot him near the border fence with the Gaza Strip, while he was participating in a demonstration against Israel’s prohibition on Palestinians entering broad areas near the fence.

28 April 2010

Deportation

HaMoked - A Palestinian was deported to Gaza

Yesterday Israel forcibly transferred Ahmad Sayeed Sabah to Gaza with no judicial review. Sabah has resided in the West Bank for the past 15 years and his now separated from his wife and child. The move comes after official promises not to deport anyone from the West Bank to Gaza.

22 April 2010

Deportation

Military order defines tens of thousands "infiltrators"

The order may be used against Gazans living for years in the West Bank while Israel has refused to update their address, and against foreign citizens married to West Bank residents whom Israel has denied family unification.

22 April 2010

Intra-Palestinian Violations

Two Palestinians executed in Gaza

B'Tselem strongly condemns the execution today of two Palestinians convicted of collaboration with Israel, by the Hamas government in Gaza. The death penalty is immoral and violates the basic right to life of every human being. B'Tselem holds that under no circumstance must it be imposed.

15 April 2010

The Separation Barrier

Cancel sweeping closure order in Ni'lin and Bil'in

The sweeping order defines all the Bil'in and Ni'lin village lands a closed military area every Friday, raising suspicion that its purpose is to prevent the demonstrations themselves, and not only unlawful actions carried out during them.

14 April 2010

Open-Fire Policy

Kamm affair: Exposed details must be investigated

The details exposed in Blau's article raise the suspicion that soldiers were given unlawful orders to kill suspects even in non-life-threatening situations and when arrest was possible. However, none of those involved have been questioned and the senior officers who gave the orders remain in their positions.

14 April 2010

Open-Fire Policy

Kam affair: Grave suspicion of illegal killings

Following the removal of the gag order imposed in Israel on the publication of details about the charges against Israeli Journalist Anat Kamm, B'Tselem wishes to reiterate that the case hinges on documents that raise grave suspicions that the Israeli military conducted assassination operations in the West Bank, under the guise of arrest operations. This, in contrast to official Israeli statements, and in violation of an Israeli High Court ruling.

8 April 2010

No Accountability

Military Police to investigate killing of youths in 'Iraq Burin

On 20 March '10, soldiers killed two youths in 'Iraq Burin. Demonstrations had taken place in the village that day. B'Tselem's findings contradict the army's statement that the soldiers had shot only "rubber" bullets. In a rare step, the Military Police will investigate the incident

28 March 2010

Area C

International Water Day: Chronic shortage in West Bank

The discriminatory division of the shared water resources infringes the Palestinians' right to water, to sanitation, and to health. Israel's policy also infringes the Palestinians' right to gain a livelihood, in that the water shortage prevents development of agriculture, one of the most important economic sectors in the West Bank.

24 March 2010

The Gaza Strip

Gaza: Soldiers shoot Palestinian youth gathering wood

On 10 February 2010, soldiers shot Muhammad Subuh, 17, near the Gaza-Israel border, wounding him. Testimonies given to B'Tselem indicate that, while Subuh was gathering firewood, soldiers opened fire without warning and while their lives were not in danger. The shooting is consistent with previous reports of the existence of "death zones" that the army has established adjacent to the border.

23 March 2010

Attacks on Israeli Civilians by Palestinians

B'Tselem condemns rocket fire at Israel

B'Tselem severely condemns the rocket fire at a civilian community in Israel, which today killed a Thai citizen who was working in the greenhouses of the Nativ Ha'asara Moshav. The Palestinian organizations responsible for firing the rockets openly declare that they intend to attack, among others, civilians. Attacks aimed at civilians are immoral and illegal, and the intentional killing of civilians is a grave breach under the Fourth Geneva Convention, a war crime.

18 March 2010

Beating and Abuse

Lenient sentence in Malul case appealed

Today (18 March '10), the military prosecution appealed the light punishment imposed on First Lt. Adam Malul last week for assaulting Palestinians, demanding he be demoted to private and sentenced to prison. B'Tselem welcomed the appeal against the sentence, which sanctioned the norm of violence against Palestinians in the OPT.

18 March 2010

Education

Testimony: Schoolhouse still in ruins, a year after Cast Lead

Beit Lahiya lies near the northern border of the Gaza Strip, where Israel began its invasion in Operation Cast Lead. Pupils of a school in the town that suffered heavy fire are still studying among the ruins, as the Israeli siege is preventing reconstruction throughout Gaza.

15 March 2010

Legislation

Legislation to restrict HR organizations

Continuing the trend of delegitimizing human rights organizations in Israel, MK's from the Right and Center are promoting a bill that will ostensibly ensure transparency, but will effectively impede the freedom of action of these organizations.

28 February 2010

Freedom of Expression

Soldiers prevent filming in West Bank

Although the army states that filming in the Occupied Territories is permitted, B'Tselem's staff and volunteers have been harassed, and even assaulted, by soldiers and officers while filming in the West Bank. Repeated complaints to military officials have been to no avail.

28 February 2010

Attacks on Israeli Civilians by Palestinians

Hamas report shamefully evades responsibility

The report, submitted to the UN on 3 Feb. '10 following the Goldstone report, includes groundless claims that the armed Palestinian groups aimed the rocket fire at Israeli military objects and harmed civilians only due to technical failure, and that they cannot be required to comply with international law, as they do not have advanced weaponry.

24 February 2010

Hebron City Center

Suspicion: Soldiers killed person who did not endanger their lives

On 12 Feb. '10, an altercation took place in Hebron between soldiers and Faiz Faraj, a local. When Faraj walked away, the soldiers shot and wounded him. B'Tselem's investigation raises the suspicion that they then shot him again, although he no longer posed a threat to their lives, and delayed his evacuation.

24 February 2010

Agriculture

Growing pressure on Jordan Valley community

Israel is effectively pressuring Palestinians to leave al-Hadidiyeh, a Bedouin community in the Jordan Valley, by denying building permits, repeatedly demolishing structures, and severely restricting movement. The community also reports harassment by settlers.

22 February 2010