Ref: 100/2021

Date: 24 July 2021

Time: 11:00 GMT

In excessive use of force, on Friday, 23 July 2021, Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) killed a Palestinian child during their incursion into Nabi Salih village, northwest of Ramallah.

According to investigations conducted by the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR), at approximately 17:00 on Friday, 23 July 2021, IOF backed by 5 military vehicles moved into Nabi Salih village, northwest of Ramallah, and stationed in the middle of the main street next to al-Khawaja Petrol Station. Afterwards, a group of Palestinians gathered and threw stones and empty bottles at IOF, who immediately fired live and rubber bullets, sound bombs and teargas canisters at the protestors, and clashes broke out. At approximately 17:20, Mohammed Muneer al-Tamimi (16) approached the Israeli military vehicles stationed on the street and when he was right behind one of the vehicles to throw stones at IOF, a soldier opened the back door of the vehicle and opened fire at al-Tamimi from a distance of one meter. As a result, al-Tamimi was shot with a live bullet that penetrated the left side of his thigh and waist; he attempted to walk few meters towards the protestors to help him, but he fell on the ground. The protestors took him via a private car to the Istishari Arab Hospital in al-Rihan Suburb in Ramallah, where he underwent a surgery for 5 consecutive hours due to his serious health condition, according to the doctors. At approximately 23:00 on the same day, medical sources at the hospital declared al-Tamimi succumbed to his injury.

PCHR strongly condemns the excessive use of lethal force which resulted in the murder of al-Tamimi, and stresses that there was no justification for the use of fire, especially if there was no imminent danger or threat to the soldiers’ lives.

PCHR notes that this incident is part of IOF’s recurrent policy of opening fire and using excessive force during the suppression of peaceful protests, which violates shooting standards. This policy also reflects the Israeli occupation’s disregard for Palestinians’ safety and lives.

PCHR reiterates its call on the international community to act immediately to stop the IOF crimes and renews its call on the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfill their obligations under Article 1; i.e. to respect and ensure respect for the Convention in all circumstances and their obligations under Article 146 to prosecute persons alleged to commit grave breaches of the Fourth Geneva Convention. These grave breaches constitute war crimes under Article 147 of the same Convention and Protocol (I) Additional to the Geneva Conventions on the guarantee of Palestinian civilians’ right to protection in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt).