Attachments
Ramallah - 11 December 2024
We call on the Palestinian authorities in the Occupied West Bank to investigate the conduct of the Palestinian Security Forces (PSF) in Jenin Refugee Camp and hold to account those responsible for gross violations of international human rights law.
An ongoing PSF operation in Jenin Refugee Camp and surrounding areas that started on 5 December raises concerns about several serious violations of international human rights law, including unlawful killing through the unnecessary and excessive use of force, and possible extrajudicial executions. The operation also disrupted access to education and healthcare.
During the operation, on 9 December, the PSF shot two unarmed Palestinians while riding a motorbike, according to video evidence and eyewitnesses. 19-year-old Rebhi Mohammed Shalabi and his 15-year-old cousin were reportedly on their way to deliver food from their family’s cafe to a nearby neighbourhood when they were stopped by an armoured PSF vehicle. Video footage shows Shalabi raising both hands, but shots from inside the vehicle killed him and injured his 15-year-old cousin in the head.
Since 8 December, the PSF took command of the upper floors and roof of the Jenin Governmental Hospital and used the premises as a base to conduct its security operation, which involved shooting from inside the hospital. As a result of the operation, UNRWA suspended its services in Jenin, including schooling, and access to medical services provided by the Jenin Governmental Hospital was disrupted.
During the operation, the PSF reportedly detained eight men, including an injured man who was taken from the hospital on a stretcher and later released.
Palestinian armed men returned fire on several occasions and reportedly planted and detonated an improvised explosive device around the Palestinian Special Police headquarters. This resulted in the injury of two bystanders, a Palestinian couple, and three police officers.
Since 7 October 2023, along with raids and operations by the PSF, Palestinians in the Occupied West Bank have had to endure unprecedented levels of Israeli violence, including violent raids, destruction of roads and infrastructure, mass arbitrary detentions, home demolitions and forced displacement, settler attacks on Palestinian communities, and severe restrictions on their freedom of movement that is fragmenting their villages and towns more and more every day.
After initially denying responsibility for the killing of Rebhi Mohammed Shalabi, the PSF announced an investigation on 10 December after video evidence surfaced. Since 7 October 2023, the PSF have killed seven Palestinians including two boys in the occupied West Bank. In some cases, Palestinian authorities announced investigations, but the UN Human Rights Office is not aware of any outcome. The Palestinian authorities must launch independent, transparent and thorough investigations into each incident where violations of international human rights law are suspected and hold perpetrators to account in accordance with international standards.
ENDS