Ref: 25/2021

Date: 25 February 2021

Time: 19:00 GMT

On Wednesday, 24 February 2021, a Palestinian man was shot and killed by the Palestinian National Security Forces during a security mission in Ni’lin, west of Ramallah. The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) expresses its deep concerns over the incident, and fears that excessive and disproportionate force was used, and that they did not abide by the basic principels for the use of force and firearms. PCHR emphasizes the imperative to open a serious investigation into the incident, publishing the results and taking necessary legal action against perpetrators.

According to PCHR’s investigations and 3 eyewitness testimonies, at approximately 12:00 on Wednesday, a Palestinian special force –known as 101 Force- entered Ni’lin, west of Ramallah, in two civilian vehicles without licence plates, to arrest Monthir Reda Mohammed Hamad Hamdiya “Srour” (34). The special force chased Hamdiya’s vehicle as he was driving towards the center of the village from the west. The force surrounded his vehicle, chased Hamdiya down the road and opened fire directly at him. As a result, 4 live bullets penetrated his neck, chest and stomach. Hamdiya’s body was dragged on the road and thrown into the trunk. Later, the victim was taken to Palestine Medical Center in Ramallah, where the medical sources informed his family of his death at approximately 14:30.

An eyewitness stated that 10-15 undercover security officers got out of two civilian vehicles wearing green clothes – two in black jackets and fired one shot. He added: “I saw Monthir getting out of his vehicle and running, he crossed the street as they shot him while shouting to each other, “Kill him! Shoot him!” Monthir did not hold any weapon or engage the uncovered men. Monthir jumped from a 4-meter wall adjacent to the street, and suddenly 5 persons of the special force surrounded him and shot him with 4-5 live bullets, then one of them carried him from his hand and one from his leg, while blood was completely covering his head and face … he was already gone.”

PCHR strongly condemns the excessive use of force by law enforcement officials, which caused Srour’s death. PCHR stresses that there are international standards as per the “Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials,”[1] adopted by the UN General Assembly resolution, which set standards of firing, that supposed to be respected by law enforcement officials, and that any violation of these standards is considered a crime and its perpetrator is accountable in accordance with the Penal Code.

PCHR is strongly concerned over the recurrence of such incidents, which casts doubts on the leniency of officials towards such dangerous practices. Thus, PCHR stresses the need to conduct serious and impartial investigations, announce the results of investigation, and taking necessary legal action against perpetrators and taking the necessary legal measures to prevent recurrence of such incidents.

PCHR also emphasizes the government’s right to impose the law; nonetheless, this ought to be with the compliance of the security services with standards for firearms use, which oblige the security officers to use weapons only when defending themselves or others from an imminent danger according to the proportionality rules codified by international standards.

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[1] Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials, United Nations

https://www.ohchr.org/AR/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/LawEnforcementOfficials.aspx