Ref: 07/2014
Date: 30 January 2014
Time: 11:30 GMT
On Wednesday, 29 January 2014, Israeli forces wilfully killed a Palestinian labourer when they opened heavy fire at him from a distance less than 50 meters. Israeli forces claimed that the person killed had opened fire at a military watchtower, but eyewitnesses refuted the claim and confirmed that the labourer was wilfully killed from a close range while regulating traffic on Ramallah – Nablus road, north of Ein Sinya village, north of Ramallah.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR and statements of eyewitnesses, at approximately 10:30 on the abovementioned day, Mohammed Mahmoud Abdul Aziz Mubarak (20), from al-Jalazoun refugee camp, north of Ramallah, working in al-Tarifi General Contracting Company. Mubarak was regulating the traffic near the crossroads leading to Oyoun al-Haramiya, north of the city. Israeli soldiers stationed in a watchtower ordered him to step forward towards the tower. He lfollowed the order and walked about 40 meters. They ordered him to turn around take off his orange vest and throw it away. A minute later, they opened fire at him. As a result, he sustained three bullet wounds to the left leg, left thigh and left side and died immediately. Eyewitnesses said that Israeli forces hindered the ambulance for two hours before taking the corpse to Ramallah medical compound.
An eyewitness said to PCHR’s fieldworker:
“I am a contractor in Ein Sanina housing project of the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions, which is opposite to Ramallah – Nablus road. At approximately 10:30 on Wednesday, 29 January 2014, I heard heavy gunfire outside. I immediately looked out of the second floor window and saw Mohammed Mubarak, whom I know. Mohammed used to regulate traffic in a contracting company that rehabilitates that road. He was standing at the northern entrance leading to Oyoun al-Haramiya village. I saw him approaching the watchtower that was about 40 meters away from him. He took his orange vest off and threw it away. A minute later, Israeli soldiers in the watchtower intentionally opened fire at him. I saw Mohammed was holding his leg and then fell to the ground. I realized he was wounded. I immediately called the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS), hurried to the bulldozer driver and told him what had happened. Other workers and I headed towards the crossroads, where Mohammed was. We were 10 meters away from him, but Israeli soldiers prevented us from getting closer. Five minutes later, an ambulance arrived, but paramedics were prevented from taking the corpse and the ambulance was prevented from entering the scene for two hours. In the meantime, a number of young men and residents of al-Jalazoun refugee camp, including the victim’s father, approached, but were denied access to the corpse. Israeli soldiers fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters to disperse them. At approximately 12:40, Israeli forces allowed paramedics to take the corpse and transport it to Ramallah medical compound in Ramallah.”
The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) severely condemns this crime, This once again proves 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 fulfil 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 fulfil 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.
