2023

Aviad Nir

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ShayAugust 19, 2023: Aviad Nir, 28, was shot and killed, along with his father, Shay Silas Nigreker, 60, by an unknown perpetrator at a car wash in the West Bank.

The two men were residents of Ashdod, south of Tel Aviv, in the southern part of Israel. They had apparently been visiting a friend in an illegal Israeli settlement in the West Bank, and were returning back to Ashdod when they stopped at a car wash in the northern West Bank town of Huwara, south of Nablus.

Media sources said that an unknown assailant opened fire, critically injuring the Israeli man and his son. The shooter then fled on foot.

According to Palestinian sources, Israeli officials initially thought that the victims were Palestinian and did not send an ambulance for thirty minutes.

During that time, a Palestinian ambulance with the Red Crescent emergency response service arrived on the scene and tried to treat the two wounded men. After 30 minutes, an Israeli ambulance with the Magen David Adom ambulance service arrived and took over the resuscitation efforts, which were unsuccessful.

According to the Israeli army’s preliminary investigation, the shooter approached the men on foot, and fired from close range with a handgun.

The Israeli occupation army, in its continued search for the perpetrator, closed several military roadblocks in the vicinity of Nablus and the town of Huwara, tightening its inspection procedures, causing severe traffic crises.

The military arrested the owner of the car wash where the attack took place, although there is no indication that he was involved in any way. The army has not identified the perpetrator of Saturday’s shooting, but they locked down all of the nearby villages and towns and have installed additional checkpoints and raided homes and cars in the area.

On Saturday night, following the daytime shooting attack, Israeli colonial settlers rampaged in the town of Huwara, throwing rocks at Palestinian pedestrians and vehicles and setting fires, in a scene that brought back memories of the Israeli settler riots in February, in which hundreds of Palestinian homes and cars were burned by Israeli paramilitary settlers. During the February riots, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich stated that he wanted Huwara to be ‘wiped off the map’, saying it was a ‘hotbed for terrorists’.

In the pre-dawn hours on Sunday morning, Israeli forces stationed in Huwara shot and wounded a masked Israeli paramilitary settler who had been throwing objects at vehicles on Route 60 – a road traveled by both Israeli colonial settlers and indigenous Palestinians.

Aviad was from Ashdod (formerly the Palestinian city of Isdud) in what is now Israel. Source: IMEMC

Mustafa al-Kastouni

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MustafaAugust 17, 2023: Mustafa al-Kastouni, 32, was executed by Israeli forces, who also then destroyed his family’s home during a military assault on the northern occupied West Bank city of Jenin, the Ministry of Health confirmed.

In a statement, the Ministry of Health announced that, “Mustafa al-Kastouni, 32, was killed after being shot by the occupation in the head, chest and abdomen, during the aggression on Jenin.”

Israeli special forces invaded the roundabout area, in the Old City of Jenin, in the northern West Bank.

Local Palestinians protested the military incursion, and armed Palestinian resistance fighters exchanged fire with the attacking army.

It is important to note that the occupation army announced that one of its soldiers sustained minor injuries during the confrontations, and was transported to hospital.

During the military assault, Israeli forces fired lived rounds and shot three Palestinians, one of whom was killed after being shot with live rounds in the head, chest, and abdomen.

The death of the young man was confirmed by the Palestinian Ministry of Health who identified him as Mustafa al-Kastouni, 32.

Soldiers destroyed the home of the slain man while he was present inside, although no details were provided regarding the method used by the occupation army.

Furthermore, two additional young men were shot and injured during the Israeli aggression, including a 34-year-old employee of the Ministry of Health, who was shot with two live rounds in the chest and abdomen.

Israeli forces also abducted two young men from the city, identified as Hani al-Kastouni and Hassan al-Hasis.

Sources added that since the beginning of the year, Israeli occupation forces have killed 228 Palestinians.

In the afternoon, large crowds of Palestinian mourners gathered in front of the Martyr Khalil Suleiman Governmental Hospital in Jenin.

The young men participating in the funeral procession marched the streets of the city, carrying the body of the slain young man on their shoulders.

Mourners traveled to the home of the slain man’s extended family, where loved ones said their final goodbyes, before performing the funeral prayer.

The body of the slain man was laid to rest in the martyrs’ cemetery, in the eastern part of the city.

Palestinians declared a comprehensive commercial strike in the city of Jenin to mourn the death of the citizen al-Kastouni.

Mustafa was from Jenin, in the northern West Bank. Source: IMEMC

Qusai Omar al-Walaji

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QusaiAugust 15, 2023: Qusai Omar al-Walaji, 16, was shot and killed, before dawn during a military incursion into the Aqabat Jaber refugee camp, south of Jericho, in the northeastern part of the West Bank.

Media sources said that the Israeli occupation army stormed the Aqabat Jaber refugee camp, just south of the ancient city of Jericho.

Israeli soldiers opened fire at local Palestinians under unclear circumstances, however it is presumed that the youths were protesting the invasion.

There is no mention of resistance from armed Palestinian fighters, however social media videos show an exchange of fire between resistance fighters and the invading army.

During the invasion, soldiers shot and seriously injured two Palestinian civilians, including a child, who were transported to the Jericho Governmental Hospital.

Medical sources said that Qusai Omar al-Walaji, 16, and Muhammad Ribhi Nujoom, 25, were admitted to hospital in critical condition, and both were pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

It was reported that the slain young men were shot with live rounds, however, no further details were provided regarding the nature of the wounds.

The Jericho chapter of the Palestinian Prisoners’ Society (PPS) reported that soldiers abducted Mohammad Nasr Abu Al-Assal, 20, from his home in the camp.

Later on the same day, hundreds of Palestinians gathered at the Jericho Governmental Hospital to receive the body of Mohammad Ribhi Nujoom, 25, and proceeded to his family home for loved ones to say their final goodbyes.

Mourners performed the funeral prayer, and laid the body of the slain young man to rest in the martyrs’ cemetery, in the Aqabat Jaber refugee camp.

The body of the slain child, Qusai Omar al-Walaji, 16, was held at his family home in the “Katt al-Wad” neighborhood in Jericho city, while loved ones paid their respects.

The funeral procession began from there to the Old Jericho Mosque, where the funeral prayer was performed, before the body of the child was laid to rest.

Qusai was from Jericho, in the eastern part of the West Bank. Source: IMEMC

Muhammad Ribhi Nujoom

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August 15, 2023: Muhammad Ribhi Nujoom, 25, was shot and killed, before dawn during a military incursion into the Aqabat Jaber refugee camp, south of Jericho, in the northeastern part of the West Bank.

Media sources said that the Israeli occupation army stormed the Aqabat Jaber refugee camp, just south of the ancient city of Jericho.

Israeli soldiers opened fire at local Palestinians under unclear circumstances, however it is presumed that the youths were protesting the invasion.

There is no mention of resistance from armed Palestinian fighters, however social media videos show an exchange of fire between resistance fighters and the invading army.

During the invasion, soldiers shot and seriously injured two Palestinian civilians, including a child, who were transported to the Jericho Governmental Hospital.

Medical sources said that Qusai Omar al-Walaji, 16, and Mohammad Ribhi Nujoom, 25, were admitted to hospital in critical condition, and both were pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

It was reported that the slain young men were shot with live rounds, however, no further details were provided regarding the nature of the wounds.

The Jericho chapter of the Palestinian Prisoners’ Society (PPS) reported that soldiers abducted Mohammad Nasr Abu Al-Assal, 20, from his home in the camp.

Later on the same day, hundreds of Palestinians gathered at the Jericho Governmental Hospital to receive the body of Mohammad Ribhi Nujoom, 25, and proceeded to his family home for loved ones to say their final goodbyes.

Mourners performed the funeral prayer, and laid the body of the slain young man to rest in the martyrs’ cemetery, in the Aqabat Jaber refugee camp.

The body of the slain child, Qusai Omar al-Walaji, 16, was held at his family home in the “Katt al-Wad” neighborhood in Jericho city, while loved ones paid their respects.

The funeral procession began from there to the Old Jericho mosque, where the funeral prayer was performed, before the body of the child was laid to rest.

Mohammad was from Jericho, in the eastern part of the West Bank. Source: IMEMC

Mahmoud Jihad Al-Jarad

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August 11, 2023: Mahmoud Jihad Al-Jarad, 23, was shot and killed by Israeli occupation forces before dawn Friday, during a military invasion into the Tulkarem refugee camp, in the northwestern part of the West Bank, local sources reported.

In addition to killing Mahmoud, the troops injured eight others with live ammunition.

Media sources reported that the Israeli army stormed the Tulkarem refugee camp, in the northwestern part of the occupied West Bank, and positioned sharpshooters on the rooftops of civilian homes.

Local Palestinians protested the invasion, while armed Palestinian resistance fighters exchanged fire with the occupation army.

Occupation forces opened fire with live rounds, tear gas canisters, and concussion grenades, shooting one young man, identified as Mahmoud Jihad Al-Jarad, 23, in the chest with live ammunition.

Al-Jarad was transported to the Martyr Thabet Thabet Governmental Hospital in Tulkarem with critical gun shot wounds to the chest, where doctors pronounced him dead shortly after arrival.

It was added that eight others were also shot with live rounds, one of whom was deemed in serious condition.

On Friday afternoon, large crowds of local Palestinians gathered in front of the Martyr Thabet Thabet Governmental Hospital to receive the body of the slain young man.

Mourners carried the body wrapped in the Palestinian flag, on their shoulders through the streets to the slain young man’s family home in the eastern neighborhood.

Family and loved ones said their final goodbyes, before performing the funeral prayer at the Othman bin Affan Mosque in Tulkarem, before laying his body to rest in the western cemetery in Tulkarem.

Mahmoud was from Tulkarem refugee camp. Source: IMEMC

Amir Ahmad Khalfia

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August 10, 2023: Amir Ahmad Mohammad Khalfia, 27, was shot and killed by Israeli forces before dawn Thursday, a Palestinian young man, after invading Zawata town, northwest of the northern West Bank city of Nablus, the Ministry of Health confirmed.

Media sources said that Israeli occupation soldiers stormed the town of Zawata, which sparked protests among local Palestinians. There were no reports of an armed exchange with resistance fighters.

Soldiers opened fire, with live ammunition, shooting Amir Ahmad Mohammad Khalfia, 27, with two rounds in the head and back, the Ministry of Health announced.

The young man, a resident of the Al-Ein refugee camp (Camp No. 1) in Nablus city, was transported to hospital in critical condition, where medical personnel pronounced him dead shortly after arrival.

According to the slain man’s brother, Khaled, Amir “has been pursued for two years, and he has fought many clashes and survived several assassination attempts recently.”

He added that, “What happened today was an ambush carried out by the occupation forces, as they lured my brother out of the camp, and then assassinated him as soon as he got out of his vehicle.”

Later Thursday, hundreds of Palestinians gathered in front of the Rafidia hospital in Nablus, and carried the body of the slain young man through the streets, to his family home in the Al-Ein refugee camp.

Family members and loved ones said their final goodbyes before his body was buried in the camp cemetery.

Amir was from the Al-Ein refugee camp (Camp No. 1) in Nablus, in the northern West Bank. Source: IMEMC

Baraa Ahmad Al-Qerem

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BaraaAugust 6, 2023: Baraa Ahmad Al-Qerem, 16, was killed in an extrajudicial execution (assassination) in which Israeli forces killed three Palestinians dead, including a child, when their vehicle was targeted in Jenin, north of the West Bank.

According to information collected by a fieldworker from the Palestinian Center for Human Rights, at around 17:15 on Sunday, 06 August 2023, an Israeli Special Military Force sneaked via a Volkswagen Caddy car and a Hyundai Santa Fe SUV with Palestinian registration plates into a road connecting Bir al-Basha village with Arraba village near ‘Arraba Intersection in Jenin.

Suddenly, the two vehicles intercepted a grey Peugeot vehicle with a yellow Israeli registration plate and many Israeli soldiers stepped out of their vehicles and heavily opened fire at the targeted vehicle from behind, forcing it to stop completely. Minutes later, backup Israeli forces arrived at the scene and completely closed the road from both directions, blocking the traffic. Afterwards, the Israeli soldiers fired teargas canisters in the area, and after 15 minutes, Israeli forces started withdrawing from the area and towed the targeted vehicle that was hit by many bullets with the targeted persons still inside.

After Israeli forces withdrew, many Palestinians gathered at the scene and saw blood and brain tissue scattered on the ground. Later, the Israeli military released the names of the three Palestinians they had executed: Nayef Jihad Nayef Abu Sweiss (27), Khaleel Nizar Nemer Abu Na’asah (21), both from Jenin refugee camp and members of Jenin Brigade, and Baraa Ahmad Al-Qerem (16), from Jalkamous village, south of Jenin. The Israeli military held on to the bodies and refused to release them to their families.

Later, Israeli forces announced, in a joint statement by the Israeli forces, the Shin Bet, and the Israel Border Police, that a joint operation was carried out after spotting a “terrorist cell” in a car in Jenin refugee camp, claiming (without providing evidence) that they were on their way to carry out a shooting attack. The statement added that the head of the cell, Nayef Abu Sweiss was killed as well as two persons accompanying him.

It is noteworthy that extrajudicial killings are carried out pursuant to Israeli forces’s intelligence, and those on the Israeli militarys ‘wanted’ list are killed instantly rather than being arrested. By this, Israeli forces act as both judge and executioner of a death sentence at the same time. Palestinian civilians often pay the price of such crimes, which are committed by Israeli forces without regard for nontarget civilians’ lives.

According to PCHR’s documentation, at least 1000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli forces’s assassination crimes in the West Bank and Gaza Strip over the last two decades, 80% of them have been nontarget civilians and 15% were children.

PCHR indicates that that Israeli forces has perpetuated this pattern of crimes in the recent years against the Palestinians in light of international community’s silence and inaction, particularly the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention, to stop these crimes and take effective measures against the Israeli occupation, thereby encouraging the latter to commit further war crimes against the Palestinians.

PCHR reiterates its call on the international community to take an immediate action to stop the Israeli crimes and double standard when applying the international law and particularly urges the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to take serious action in the situation of Palestine.

PCHR demands 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,” and their obligations under Article 146 of the same Conventions, i.e., to hold accountable persons accused of committing grave breaches of the Convention.

Baraa was from Jalkamous village, south of Jenin, in the northern West Bank. Source: PCHR, IMEMC

Khaleel Nizar Abu Na’asah

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KhaleelAugust 6, 2023: Khaleel Nizar Nemer Abu Na’asah, 21, was killed in an extrajudicial execution (assassination) in which Israeli forces killed three Palestinians dead, including a child, when their vehicle was targeted in Jenin, north of the West Bank.

According to information collected by a fieldworker from the Palestinian Center for Human Rights, at around 17:15 on Sunday, 06 August 2023, an Israeli Special Military Force sneaked via a Volkswagen Caddy car and a Hyundai Santa Fe SUV with Palestinian registration plates into a road connecting Bir al-Basha village with Arraba village near ‘Arraba Intersection in Jenin.

Suddenly, the two vehicles intercepted a grey Peugeot vehicle with a yellow Israeli registration plate and many Israeli soldiers stepped out of their vehicles and heavily opened fire at the targeted vehicle from behind, forcing it to stop completely. Minutes later, backup Israeli forces arrived at the scene and completely closed the road from both directions, blocking the traffic. Afterwards, the Israeli soldiers fired teargas canisters in the area, and after 15 minutes, Israeli forces started withdrawing from the area and towed the targeted vehicle that was hit by many bullets with the targeted persons still inside.

After Israeli forces withdrew, many Palestinians gathered at the scene and saw blood and brain tissue scattered on the ground. Later, the Israeli military released the names of the three Palestinians they had executed: Nayef Jihad Nayef Abu Sweiss (27), Khaleel Nizar Nemer Abu Na’asah (21), both from Jenin refugee camp and members of Jenin Brigade, and Baraa Ahmad Al-Qerem (16), from Jalkamous village, south of Jenin. The Israeli military held on to the bodies and refused to release them to their families.

Later, Israeli forces announced, in a joint statement by the Israeli forces, the Shin Bet, and the Israel Border Police, that a joint operation was carried out after spotting a “terrorist cell” in a car in Jenin refugee camp, claiming (without providing evidence) that they were on their way to carry out a shooting attack. The statement added that the head of the cell, Nayef Abu Sweiss was killed as well as two persons accompanying him.

It is noteworthy that extrajudicial killings are carried out pursuant to Israeli forces’s intelligence, and those on the Israeli militarys ‘wanted’ list are killed instantly rather than being arrested. By this, Israeli forces act as both judge and executioner of a death sentence at the same time. Palestinian civilians often pay the price of such crimes, which are committed by Israeli forces without regard for nontarget civilians’ lives.

According to PCHR’s documentation, at least 1000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli forces’s assassination crimes in the West Bank and Gaza Strip over the last two decades, 80% of them have been nontarget civilians and 15% were children.

PCHR indicates that that Israeli forces has perpetuated this pattern of crimes in the recent years against the Palestinians in light of international community’s silence and inaction, particularly the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention, to stop these crimes and take effective measures against the Israeli occupation, thereby encouraging the latter to commit further war crimes against the Palestinians.

PCHR reiterates its call on the international community to take an immediate action to stop the Israeli crimes and double standard when applying the international law and particularly urges the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to take serious action in the situation of Palestine.

PCHR demands 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,” and their obligations under Article 146 of the same Conventions, i.e., to hold accountable persons accused of committing grave breaches of the Convention.

Khaleel was from Jenin, in the northern West Bank. Source: PCHR, IMEMC

Nayef Jihad Abu Sweiss

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NayefAugust 6, 2023: Nayef Jihad Nayef Abu Sweiss, 27, was killed in an extrajudicial execution (assassination) in which Israeli forces killed three Palestinians dead, including a child, when their vehicle was targeted in Jenin, north of the West Bank.

According to information collected by a fieldworker from the Palestinian Center for Human Rights, at around 17:15 on Sunday, 06 August 2023, an Israeli Special Military Force sneaked via a Volkswagen Caddy car and a Hyundai Santa Fe SUV with Palestinian registration plates into a road connecting Bir al-Basha village with Arraba village near ‘Arraba Intersection in Jenin.

Suddenly, the two vehicles intercepted a grey Peugeot vehicle with a yellow Israeli registration plate and many Israeli soldiers stepped out of their vehicles and heavily opened fire at the targeted vehicle from behind, forcing it to stop completely. Minutes later, backup Israeli forces arrived at the scene and completely closed the road from both directions, blocking the traffic. Afterwards, the Israeli soldiers fired teargas canisters in the area, and after 15 minutes, Israeli forces started withdrawing from the area and towed the targeted vehicle that was hit by many bullets with the targeted persons still inside.

After Israeli forces withdrew, many Palestinians gathered at the scene and saw blood and brain tissue scattered on the ground. Later, the Israeli military released the names of the three Palestinians they had executed: Nayef Jihad Nayef Abu Sweiss (27), Khaleel Nizar Nemer Abu Na’asah (21), both from Jenin refugee camp and members of Jenin Brigade, and Baraa Ahmad Al-Qerem (16), from Jalkamous village, south of Jenin. The Israeli military held on to the bodies and refused to release them to their families.

Later, Israeli forces announced, in a joint statement by the Israeli forces, the Shin Bet, and the Israel Border Police, that a joint operation was carried out after spotting a “terrorist cell” in a car in Jenin refugee camp, claiming (without providing evidence) that they were on their way to carry out a shooting attack. The statement added that the head of the cell, Nayef Abu Sweiss was killed as well as two persons accompanying him.

It is noteworthy that extrajudicial killings are carried out pursuant to Israeli forces’s intelligence, and those on the Israeli militarys ‘wanted’ list are killed instantly rather than being arrested. By this, Israeli forces act as both judge and executioner of a death sentence at the same time. Palestinian civilians often pay the price of such crimes, which are committed by Israeli forces without regard for nontarget civilians’ lives.

According to PCHR’s documentation, at least 1000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli forces’s assassination crimes in the West Bank and Gaza Strip over the last two decades, 80% of them have been nontarget civilians and 15% were children.

PCHR indicates that that Israeli forces has perpetuated this pattern of crimes in the recent years against the Palestinians in light of international community’s silence and inaction, particularly the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention, to stop these crimes and take effective measures against the Israeli occupation, thereby encouraging the latter to commit further war crimes against the Palestinians.

PCHR reiterates its call on the international community to take an immediate action to stop the Israeli crimes and double standard when applying the international law and particularly urges the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to take serious action in the situation of Palestine.

PCHR demands 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,” and their obligations under Article 146 of the same Conventions, i.e., to hold accountable persons accused of committing grave breaches of the Convention.

Nayef was from Jenin, in the northern West Bank. Source: PCHR, IMEMC

Kamel Mahmoud Abu Bakr

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Kamal Abu BakrAugust 05, 2023: Kamel Mahmoud Abu Bakr, 22, was shot and killed by an Israeli security guard in Tel Aviv after Kamal had been approached by another security guard, whom he allegedly shot and killed.

According to local sources, a Palestinian young man allegedly shot and killed one Israeli security guard, and injured two more Israelis in Tel Aviv, in the central coastal region of Israel.

The Times of Israel quoted Israeli Police Commissioner, Kobi Shabtai, who stated that two security officers approached a “suspect” who pulled out a handgun and opened fire, striking one of the security guards.

The Times of Israeli added that the uninjured security guard chased the man and returned fire. The officer was quoted as saying, “I chased after him and continued shooting until he fell to the ground.”

The injured security officer was identified as Chen Amir, 42. He was shot in the head and transported to hospital with critical injuries, which he succumbed to shortly thereafter.

The details of other injuries are unclear. The Times of Israel failed to mention other injuries, however Palestinian media reported three injuries in total.

It was added that the accused shooter was also transported to hospital after being shot multiple times, he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

The accused perpetrator of the shooting was identified as Kamal Abu Bakr, 22.

According to the Israeli Army Radio, Abu Bakr had been on the army’s “wanted list” for the past six months for allegedly opening fire at Israeli occupation forces in the West Bank.

Just a day before this, an illegal Israeli settler shot and killed a 19 year old Palestinian young man in the town of Burqa, east of Ramallah, in the central West Bank.

Kamal was from Rummanah village, northwest of Jenin, in the northern occupied West Bank. Source: IMEMC