Ref: 99/2022

Date: 09 August 2022

Time: 13:00 GMT

Today morning, Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) killed 3 Palestinians, including a child, and wounded 40 others during their incursion into Nablus’s Old City deep inside the Palestinian Authority (PA)-controlled areas in the West Bank. They cordoned off and targeted a residential house with a barrage of bullets and missiles. Among those killed were 2 members of Palestinian armed group members while the child was killed near the area. The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) condemns IOF’s ongoing escalation and incursions into PA-controlled areas in the West Bank whether to assassinate wanted persons or to conduct arrest campaigns. 

According to PCHR’s investigations, at approximately 06:45 on Tuesday, 09 August 2022, an Israeli special force from “Yamam Unit” sneaked into al-Habla neighborhood in Nablus’s Old City and cordoned off an abandoned house in the area. Few minutes later, IOF backed by military vehicles and a drone moved into and closed off al-Habla and Ras al-‘Ein neighborhoods, Heteen Street and the neighborhood’s roundabout in central Nablus in addition to tightening the cordon one kilometer into the house surrounding area. Afterwards, IOF heavily opened fire at the 1-story house and launched several missiles at it. Meanwhile, an exchange of fire occurred in the area between IOF and young Palestinian men trapped in the house. The clashes, which continued until 09:20, resulted in the murder of two members of Palestinian armed groups: Islam Mohammed Shareef As’ad Sabouh (32), whose body was badly burnt after the missiles directly hit him, rendering it difficult to identify him, and Ibrahim ‘Alaa Mansour al-Nabulsi (21), who arrived at Rafidia Hospital injured with 2 bullets in his head and neck. Al-Nabulsi was admitted to the operating room, but at around 10:17, he was pronounced dead, succumbing to his serious injuries. Moreover, Hussain Jamal Mohammed Hussain Taha (16) was pronounced dead after being shot with a live bullet that penetrated his back and exited the abdomen. In the same incident, Hussain’s father, Jamal Mohammed Hussain Taha (52), sustained a live bullet wound in his right thigh, as both were on their way to work near the cordoned Heteen Street, which is only 700 meters away from the targeted house. Furthermore, 39 civilians from the passers-by and neighbors were injured; 5 of them, including an elderly woman, are in critical condition due to IOF’s indiscriminate shooting, as the latter opened fire at any moving object in the area.

The Israeli military operation caused severe destruction to the house.

PCHR reiterates its call upon the international community to take immediate action to end Israeli occupation’s crimes and double standards when it comes to international law.  PCHR also urges the ICC Prosecutor in particular to act seriously with regard to the situation in Palestine similar to its prompt action in Ukraine.  PCHR also demands the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention fulfil their obligations as per Common Article 1 of the Convention, “undertake to respect and to ensure respect for the present Convention in all circumstances,” and their obligations under Article 146 of the same Conventions, i.e., to hold accountable persons accused of committing grave breaches of the Convention.