Ref: 121/2021

Date: 26 September 2021

Time: 12:30 GMT

This morning, 26 September 2021, the Israeli occupation forces killed five Palestinians, including a child, and wounded 6 others in two separate incidents in Jenin and occupied East Jerusalem.

In Jerusalem, three Palestinians, including 1 wanted by IOF, were killed after the Israeli military raided a country home in Bidu in an extrajudicial execution, as eyewitness statements confirmed there were no clashes in the area. IOF raided the house and killed two Palestinians; they killed the third while he was attempting to flee the area. IOF has detained the victims’ bodies. In Jenin, a Palestinian man was killed and 6 others were wounded in clashes with IOF after the latter besieged al-Yamun and Burqin. According to media sources, a fifth Palestinian was also killed after an armed clash with IOF; his body was detained. The murder operation executed by IOF was given the green light by the highest political levels in Israel, allegedly for eliminating activists who planned violent operations.

According to the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights’ (PCHR) investigations and eyewitness’ statements, at approximately 04:00 on Sunday, large numbers of IOF moved into Ain Ajab area, eastern Beit ‘Anan in the northwest of occupied East Jerusalem. IOF raided a small farmhouse, detonating the front door and shooting inside; IOF killed two men inside the house, and a 3^rd almost 50 meters away as he was trying to escape. Before withdrawing from the area, IOF took the victims’ bodies and later informed the Palestinian Civil Liaison that 3 Palestinians from Bidu village were killed in an IOF raid into Beit ‘Anan. The victims are:

Ahmed Ibrahim Zahran (34)

Zakaria Ibrahim Bedwan (34)

Mahmoud Mustafa Hmaidan (31)

Hmaidan’s ID card, and traces of his blood were found near rocks approximately 50 meters from the house.

An eyewitness stated to our fieldworker that a large force of the Israeli military moved into the area and raided a house, gunfire shots were heard. At sunrise, a number of soldiers were seen wrapping two bodies and moving them. He added that locals gathered in the area after IOF withdrew, and they found traces of blood and Mahmoud Hmaidan’s ID card on nearby rocks; other blood traces were found in a different spot, presumably Zahran and Bedwan’s. The eyewitness confirmed that there were no clashes in the area between IOF and the victims, and it was clear that the shooting was one-sided. It is noteworthy that IOF had raided the area the night before; an infantry unit along with a special military unit moved into the area amidst heavy presence of Israeli military drones.

In Jenin, PCHR investigations indicate that Israeli military forces moved into Burqin, western Jenin, at approximately 04:30. IOF stationed between Burqin and al-Yamun villages and surrounded Mohammed Abul-Hasan al-Zar’yny’s (35) house. IOF demanded residents leave the house and surrender themselves. Meanwhile, a group of Palestinians gathered and threw stones at the IOF military vehicles; clashes erupted. At approximately 06:50, Usama Yasser Mohammed Sobeh (22) sustained an explosive bullet in the pelvis and rectum. He was taken to hospital in a critical condition; medical sources pronounced him dead at 08:00. Six others sustained wounds in the clashes that lasted until 07:10 when IOF withdrew from the area after arresting two Palestinians, including a child who was wounded as well. Later, Israeli media said that the child who was arrested while wounded succumbed to his wounds and was identified as Yousif Mohammed Soboh (16).

The Israeli military spokesperson said that at least 4 Palestinians were killed in shootings between IOF and armed Palestinians in 5 different areas in the West Bank: 3 in Bidu, and 1 in Burqin – Jenin. He added that 4 armed persons were also arrested.

PCHR investigations and eyewitnesses’ statements refute the Israeli military’s claims that there were clashes with the victims in Bidu as they were extrajudicially executed in cold blood. Also, Usama Sobeh was killed in Burqin in a crime of excessive use of force.

PCHR follow-up indicates that this military operation was conducted upon orders from the highest political levels in Israel, according to Makan, the Israeli Prime Minister, Naftali Bennett, told journalists onboard his flight to New York that IOF acted as expected and have the full support of the government.[1]

PCHR emphasizes that IOF crimes against Palestinian civilians have seen an increase recently, and that the majority of these crimes are committed without justification and in violation of shooting standards, i.e. without the presence of any danger or threat to soldiers’ lives.

Thus, PCHR calls upon the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) Prosecutor to include the latest murders in the investigation conducted by the ICC into IOF’s war crimes in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt.)

PCHR reiterates its call for the international community to move swiftly to end the Israeli occupation’s crimes; and renews its call for the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to uphold their responsibilities under Article 1 “to respect and to ensure respect for the present Convention in all circumstances,” and under Article 146 “to enact any legislation necessary to provide effective penal sanctions for persons committing, or ordering to be committed, any grave breaches” of the Convention.

[1] Makan, https://www.makan.org.il/Item/?itemId=113640