Israel: ongoing extra-judicial execution of peaceful demonstrators and activists

01 Jul 2011
On 15 May 2011, peaceful popular protests were carried out along the Israeli borders with many Arab states by Palestinian refugees and their supporters calling for them to be allowed back to the lands their families once owned. During these protests, thousands of Palestinians refugees and other activists were moving to many Israeli borders when Israeli soldiers fired on the protestors using live ammunition to disperse them, resulting in many deaths and injuries, including along the border between Israel and Syria in the Golan Heights region, and at Marun Al Ras, along the Lebanese border with Israel.

On 1 July 2011, Alkarama and the Palestinian Association for Human Rights (Witness) submitted to the Special Rapporteur on Summary Executions the case of the following six individuals, two of which are minors, who were shot dead by Israeli soldiers in Marun Al Ras:

1.    Mr Mhamoud Mohamed Salem (‫محمود محمد سالم ‬), aged 17, a Palestine refugee who was living in Al Bass Camp, South of Lebanon, Lebanon. Mr Salem was killedkilled by a bullet in the stomach.

2.    Mr Mohamed Samir Al Saleh ( ‫محمد سمير الصالح‬), aged 17, a Palestine refugee who was living in Berj Al Shemali Camp, Beirut, Lebanon. Mr Afendi was killed by a bullet in the heart.

3.    Mr Khalil Mohamed Ahmed ( ‫خليل محمد أحمد‬), aged 22,  a Palestine refugee who was living in Al Jaleel Camp, Baalbek, Lebanon. Mr Ahmed was killed by bullet to his reproductive system.

4.    Mr Emad Emad Abu Shakra (‫عماد عماد أبو شقرا ‬), aged 19,  a Palestine refugee who was living in 'ain Al Helwa Camp, Saida, Lebanon. Mr Shakra was killed by a bullet in the heart.

5.    Mr Abdulrahman Nayef Sabha (‫عبد الرحمن نايف صبحا‬), aged 22, a Palestine refugee who was living in 'ain Al Helwa Camp, Saida, Lebanon. Mr Sabha was killed by a bullet in the neck.

6.    Mr Mohamed Ibrahim Abu Shlih (‫محمد إبراهيم أبو شليح‬), aged 19, a Palestine refugee who was living in Al Meieh wa Mieh Camp, Saida, Lebanon. Mr Abu Shlih was killed by a bullet in the stomach.

These deaths are the result of the excessive use of force by members of the Israeli military against Palestinians refugees in Lebanon who were peacefully protesting along the border for their "right to return" to Israel-Palestine. On 15 May of each year, the Palestinian people commemorate "Al Nakba" day (Al Nakba means "disaster" in Arabic), the day in 1948 of the creation of the State of Israel and the simultaneous forced displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from Palestine into the neighbouring countries where many of them remain to this day as refugees.

Alkarama was also informed that Israeli troops killed at least ten other individuals at the border with Syria, in the Golan Heights. It is clear that the excessive use of force by members of the Israeli military against demonstrators and human rights activists is a pattern. We therefore fear that further deaths may yet happen as this kind of protest is continuing. Alkarama is further concerned to learn that a second Gaza flotilla is currently in direction to break the siege on Gaza. We fear that Israeli troops may use excessive force again, as was the case against the first Gaza flotilla on 5 June 2010 in which nine activists have been extra-judicial killing.

The United Nations should take urgent action with the Israeli authorities to ensure that such crimes are not repeated and that they take all steps necessary to refrain from using excessive force against peaceful demonstrators and activists.

For more information or an interview, please contact media@alkarama.org (Dir: +41 22 734 1008).

Palestine
Extrajudicial Execution
Free Assembly/Association