Ref: 67/2022

Date: 02 June 2022

Time: 10:00 GMT

On Thursday morning, 02 June 2022, Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) killed a Palestinian during IOF’s incursion into Dheisheh refugee camp in Bethlehem, south of the West Bank. Investigations conducted by the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) affirm that the Palestinian was killed in cold blood as he did not take part in the clashes erupted between IOF and young Palestinians in the camp. This crime reflects IOF’s excessive use of force and loose shooting standards against the Palestinians. 

According to PCHR’s investigations and an eyewitness’s testimony, at approximately 05:30 on Thursday, 02 June 2022, large number of IOF moved into Dheisheh refugee camp via several directions. They deployed in the camp’s alleys, topped the high buildings’ roofs and brutally raided several houses, from which they arrested ‘Abdullah Nayif Ramadan (30) and ‘Issa Shadi Ma’ali (20). Meanwhile, young Palestinians threw stones and Molotov Cocktails at IOF, who heavily responded with live bullets and teargas canisters. As a result, a Palestinian was injured with live bullets in his leg. At around 06:40, upon IOF’s withdrawal from the camp, Israeli soldiers without a prior warning opened fire at Ayman Ahmed Muhassin (29), who was in front of his house in the camp.  As a result, he was injured him with a live bullet in his chest. Muhassin was then taken to Beit Jala Governmental Hospital, where he was pronounced dead succumbing to his wounds few minutes after his arrival.

Since the beginning of 2022, IOF murdered 54 Palestinians, including 43 civilians: 12 children, 5 women (one was a journalist) and the rest were activists; 3 of them were assassinated. Meanwhile, 841 Palestinians were injured, including 84 children,4 women and 19 journalists.  All of them are residents of the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem, except for 9 fishermen in the Gaza Strip.

PCHR reiterates its call upon the international community to take immediate action to end Israeli occupation’s crimes, and its call upon the ICC Prosecutor to investigate the situation in Palestine without any delay similar to its prompt action in Ukraine.  PCHR also demand 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 also calls upon the High Contracting Parties to uphold their commitment to Article 146 of the same Conventions, i.e., to hold accountable persons accused of committing grave breaches of the Convention, and to ensure protection for Palestinian civilians in the occupied territory.