Ref: 41/2023

Date: 11 April 2023

Time: 09:30 GMT

Yesterday in the morning, a Palestinian child was killed, and 3 other civilians were injured by Israeli Occupation Forces’ (IOF) fire during clashes that broke out after IOF’s incursion into ‘Aqabat Jaber refugee camp in Jericho. This crime is part of killings committed due to the excessive use of force and shooting to kill despite posing no danger or threat to soldiers’ lives. These crimes are part of Israel’s longstanding record of impunity and protection given to its soldiers.

According to investigations conducted by the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR), at approximately 09:54 on Monday, 10 April 2023, an Israeli special force “Mista’rivim” dressed like Palestinian civilians sneaked via a white car into al-Dowar area in central ‘Aqabat Jaber refugee camp and cordoned off al-Handous Café in the center of the camp before raiding it. Simultaneously, another Israeli force raided and searched 18-year-old Yaseen ‘Izzat’s house and arrested him. Afterwards, the Israeli force withdrew from the café and indiscriminately opened fire at the residents in the area. Immediately, Israeli military vehicles moved into the camp, cordoned off the area to back up the special force and fired stun grenades and teargas canisters to disperse the residents. Meanwhile, a number of boys and young men gathered in al-Dowar area, where violent clashes broke out injuring 3 Palestinians: the first (23) was shot with a live bullet in the lower back; the second (34) was shot with a live bullet in the foot; and the third (26) was shot with a live bullet in the foot. All of those wounded were taken to Jericho Governmental Hospital. At approximately 10:28, while Mohammed Fayiz ‘Owidat (17), who was 50-60 meters away from the soldiers, was approaching and carrying stones to throw them at the soldiers, one of the soldiers fired a live bullet at his chest, so he fell on the ground, but the soldiers continued shooting at him, wounding him with 3 other live bullets in the abdomen, waist and forehead. He was then taken by an ambulance to Jericho Governmental Hospital, where doctors tried to save his life, but in vain. At around 11:05, doctors announced his death, succumbing to his serious injury.

An eyewitness said to PCHR’s fieldworker that:

“I was behind a wall, and my friend Mohammed Fayiz ‘Owidat was approaching the Israeli soldiers carrying stones to throw at them. He was running towards al-Dowar area and when he took 5 quick steps, an Israeli soldier fired a live bullet at him from a distance of 50-60 meters. Mohammed was shot with a live bullet in the left side of his chest and fell on the ground. The soldiers then consecutively fired 3 other live bullets at him; all of this happened at around 10:30. We immediately gathered around him, and an ambulance arrived.  Mohammed was lying on the ground, and I saw several injuries in his head, abdomen and waist and his face was all covered in blood. We put him in the ambulance and paramedics tried to resuscitate him, but he had no vital signs. He was declared dead shortly upon arrival at Jericho hospital.”

PCHR reiterates its call upon the international community to take immediate action to end the Israeli occupation’s crimes and the international community’s double standards when applying the international law, particularly demanding the International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor to act seriously with regard to the situation in Palestine. 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.” PCHR urges 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.