Ref: 82/2023

Date: 06 August 2023

Time: 11:00 GMT

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) condemns in the strongest terms the cold-blooded murder of a Palestinian by an Israeli settler in Burqa village, east of Ramallah, and injury of two other Palestinians by other settlers’ fire in the same place.According to information collected by PCHR and eyewitness’ testimonies, at around 18:30 on Friday, 04 August 2023, at least 20 Israeli settlers, from “Majroun” settlement established on lands confiscated from Burqa village, east of Ramallah, raided al-Hadab area in Burqa village, where Palestinian shepherds were grazing their sheep. When the settlers arrived in al-Hadab area, Palestinian young men tried to confront them by throwing stones. Clashes then broke out, and the Israeli settlers indiscriminately opened fire in the area, while one of the settlers opened fire at a Palestinian boy namely Qusai Jamal Mohammed Mu’tan (18), who was cooking food on fire and was not involved in the events. As a result, Mu’tan was shot with a live bullet in his neck and was shortly pronounced dead upon arrival at the Palestine Medical Complex. Also, two other Palestinians were shot with two live bullets in their limbs after the Israeli settlers indiscriminately opened fire.

An eyewitness said to PCHR’s fieldworker:

“During the clashes, one of the settlers known to us as “the shepherd” and identified al-Yashe’ approached Qusai Mu’tan, who was cooking food on fire and was not involved in the clashes.  The settler was only 5 meters away from Mu’tan when he directly opened fire at him, wounding him with a live bullet in his neck. We immediately took Qusai in a civilian car to Beitin village, where he was taken in an ambulance to the Palestine Medical Complex. Upon arrival at the hospital, doctors pronounced him dead, succumbing to his serious injury. It should be noted that the settler, who opened fire at Mu’tan, first arrived with cattle to graze, and when Palestinians stopped him, he headed to the settlement and brought a group of settlers who carried out attacks and indiscriminate shooting.”

PCHR denounces settler violence and the murder of Mu’tan and warns that such violence is the outcome of the impunity granted to settlers after committing crimes against Palestinians as earlier this year, 7 Palestinians have been killed by settlers in the West Bank, some were unjustifiably killed in direct attacks.

Although the Israeli media said that the Israeli police arrested settlers involved in Mu’tan’s murder, PCHR indicates that similar incidents ended up with closure of investigation under various pretexts without fulfillment of the principle of accountability and justice.

PCHR warns that such retaliatory attacks would become the norm since the Israeli ministers and officials encourage committing such attacks against the Palestinian people without any deterrence.

PCHR confirms that IOF bears responsibility for this systematic violence that is supported by Israel’s top political echelons.

PCHR calls upon the international community and UN bodies to assume their legal and moral responsibilities, and to act effectively to end IOF and settlers’ crimes against Palestinian and provide Palestinians protection.