Israeli troops kill Palestinians who don’t pose danger, Israeli rights group says

Israeli human rights group B’Tselem has said that Israeli troops killed Palestinian civilians even after they “no longer posed a threat”.

“Video footage published by the media raises grave concerns that the security forces shot to kill even when it was clear that the Palestinians no longer posed a threat and could be apprehended in other ways,” the group said on its website.

An example given by the group was the killing of 20-year-old Basel Sidr by Israeli police near Damascus Gate, an entrance to the Old City of Jerusalem.

The group said: “In two segments of video footage published by the media, Sidr is seen shot while running with a knife in hand. However, the shooting continued even after he fell down, apparently wounded and immobilised, with no one near him.”

Another example given by the organisation was the killing of 19-year-oldn Fadi ‘Alun. They insist that he was not posing a threat at the time when he was killed.

“Video footage of the shooting and some of what preceded it, filmed from two different angles, was shared online. The footage indicates that ‘Alun was holding a knife when he was shot, but no one was near him,” said B’Tselem, contradicting Israeli claims that ‘Alun had stabbed an Israeli citizen.

“A police officer is seen firing seven bullets at ‘Alun, although the latter fell to the ground after the first shot.”

The group concluded: “In the two cases described above, there is cause for grave concern that the security forces shot the suspects not to stop them in their tracks, but to kill them,” noting that such action is implicitly supported by politicians and the Israeli public.