Ref: 06/2014
Date: 25 January 2014
Time: 11:34 GMT

On Friday, 24 January 2014, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian civilian and wounded five others in two separate incidents in Beit Lahia and Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip. Israeli forces opened fire at them after they had thrown stones at the Israeli soldiers.

According to investigations conducted by the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR), at approximately 15:40 on Friday, a group of young men gathered in Bouret Abu Samrah north of Beit Lahia near the border with Israel and approached the border to throw stones at the Israeli forces stationed there. Israeli forces then opened fire at them. As a result, Belal Samir Ahmed ‘Aweidah (20) from Beit Lahia was killed immediately by a bullet to the chest.

According to PCHR’s investigations into the second incident, following the Friday prayers, a group of civilians went to al-Shuhadaa’ Cemetery adjacent to the border with Israel, east of Jabalia. They were approximately 50 to 70 metres from the border when throwing stones against Israeli soldiers stationed there. In response Israeli forces fired metal rubber-coated bullets and tear gas canisters at the stone throwers. As a result, five civilians were wounded, and others suffered from tear gas inhalation. The five wounded were taken to Kamal ‘Odwan Hospital in Beit Lahia, where their wounds were described as moderate.

The wounded civilians were identified as:

1. Mo’az Munir Abu Ghbeit (18) sustained a bullet wound to the right thigh;
2. ‘Abdullah Mohammed ‘Awad (22) sustained a bullet wound to right hand causing him fractures;
3. Salem Nafez Abu ‘Aser (21) sustained a bullet wound to the right foot;
4. Mohammed Naser Abu Qamar (18) sustained a bullet wound to the left arm; and
5. Yehia Mamdouh al-Jammal (20) sustained a bullet wound to the back.

PCHR severely condemns these crimes, which further prove the use of excessive force by Israeli forces against Palestinian civilians. Therefore, PCHR calls upon the international community to take immediate and effective actions and reiterates its call for the High Contracting Parties to the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfill their obligations under Article 1; to respect and to ensure respect for the Convention in all circumstances.

PCHR also calls upon the international community to fulfill their obligation 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.