Ref: 83/2012
Date: 30 July 2012
Time: 10:44 GMT

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) strongly condemns the killing of a Palestinian worker and the wounding of another 3 by the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) at al-Zaeem checkpoint in the east of occupied Jerusalem. PCHR calls upon the international community to immediately act to stop the IOF’s actions and renews its call for the Higher Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfill their obligations under Article 1 of the Convention to respect and ensure respect for the Convention in all circumstances.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR and the testimony of eyewitnesses, at approximately 00:30 on Monday, 30 July 2012, a group of 14 Palestinian workers from villages belonging to Ramallah and al-Bireh arrived at al-Zaeem checkpoint in the east of occupied Jerusalem while on their way to Jerusalem to look for jobs. It seems that these workers did not have work permits. The workers, who are all civilians, traveled in a civilian Ford vehicle with an Israeli plate. When the vehicle was approximately 15 meters from the checkpoint, the driver got a phone call. The caller told the driver that there was an IOF force at the checkpoint. The driver tried to turn back, but the engine suddenly broke. In the meantime, the Israeli Border Guards arrived and surrounded the vehicle. When a member of the Israeli Border Guards tried to open the door, the driver switched the car on and drove it in an attempt to escape; members of the Israeli Border Guards, as well as soldiers who were positioned at the checkpoint, opened fire at the vehicle. As a result, Hassan Badi’ Bader (45), from the Bitello village northwest of Ramallah, sustained a head wound from a bullet. Bader later died as he while being transferred by an Israeli ambulance to an Israeli hospital. In the same incident, another 3 Palestinian workers were wounded and transported by Palestinian ambulances to the Palestine Medical Compound in Ramallah. According to eyewitnesses, the IOF could have used less lethal force against the workers, especially as the vehicle that they were using entered Jerusalem, it was easy to surround the vehicle, and it was easy to arrest and questioned the passengers.

The wounded are:

1. Khaled Imad Abdullah Dar Ziadah (23), from the Bitello village, who was wounded by a bullet in his right leg;
2. Ashraf Abdullah Sabti (27), from Deir Ammar, who was wounded by 2 bullets to his left leg and right shoulder; and
3. Fathi Mohammed Ghithan (20), from the Qebya village, who was wounded by shrapnel from a bullet to his right ear.

Israeli police spokeswoman, Luba Samri, claimed that “members of the border guards opened fire at a Palestinian vehicle that refused to stop at al-Zaeem checkpoint in the east of Jerusalem.” The spokeswoman further stated that the soldiers at the checkpoint ordered the vehicle to stop more than once, but the vehicle continued to drive hastily and was a threat to the soldiers’ lives, so the soldiers opened fire at it.

PCHR renews its condemnation of this new crime, views it with grave concern and:

1. Stresses that the use of excessive force against Palestinian workers is a systematic policy adopted by the IOF that reflects a disregard for the lives of Palestinian civilians; and
2. Notes that, in light of the continued challenges by the State of Israel and the IOF to the provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention, it is time for the Higher Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to organize a conference and take immediate steps to ensure protection for Palestinian civilians and their property in the occupied Palestinian territory.