Ref: 92/2021
Date: 4 July 2021
Time: 10:00 GMT
A Palestinian civilian was killed and another wounded on Saturday evening, in Israeli occupation forces’ (IOF) excessive use of force while protecting a group of settlers attacking Qusra village, southeastern Nablus.
According to PCHR investigations, at approximately 19:00 on Saturday, 3 July 2021, a group of settlers coming from “Ish Kodesh” settlement outpost, which is established on Qusra village lands, attacked Palestinians’ houses under IOF protection. The local mosques called via speakers on the community to challenge the settlers and the military forces protecting them. Mohammed Farid Ali Hassan’s (20) house was among those subjected to settlers attacks. At the time, Hassan went to the roof and attempted to stop the settlers attacking his house by throwing stones. IOF shot live bullets at him, wounding him in the chest. Israeli soldiers raided Hassan’s house and took him, called an ambulance that transported him into a hospital in Israel. Meanwhile, a group of Palestinians arrived at the scene and confronted the settlers and soldiers; the latter proceeded with firing live and rubber-coated metal bullets, stun and tear gas grenades at the locals wounding a 22-year-old male with live bullets in his lower extremities. He was taken to Rafidia Governmental Hospital in Nablus for treatment. Several others suffocated due to tear gas inhalation and were treated in the field. At approximately 21:00, IOF announced Mohammed Hassan dead, and informed the Palestinian Liaison, who informed Qusra Mayor, Mohammed Jaber, that Hassan died of his wounds.
The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights condemns the murder crime against Hassan and the suppression IOF practices against Palestinian civilians, vis-à-vis the protection offered to settlers attacking Palestinian civilians and towns.
PCHR reiterates its call upon the international community to move urgently to stop the Israeli occupation’s crimes and renews its call upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to uphold their commitments under common Article 1 to the four Geneva Conventions to respect and to ensure respect for the Convention in all circumstances. PCHR believes that the international community is involved in a conspiracy of silence that encourages Israel to continue its violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.