Israeli military used live ammunition against protesters in Gaza Strip without justification
Oct.-Nov. 2015: Israeli military used live ammunition against protesters in Gaza Strip without justification
Published November 16, 2015
Every weekend since Friday, 9 October 2015, demonstrations of solidarity with Palestinians in the West Bank have been held in Gaza. Protests took place in four major sites in the Gaza Strip, most of them in proximity to the perimeter fence separating Israel from Gaza: in the southern Gaza Strip ¬– at the eastern edge of the Khan Yunis District; in the center – east of al-Bureij R.C.; and in the north – near Nahal Oz Crossing and near Erez Crossing. In the al-Bureij R.C. area, protests were also held on weekdays. Dozens to hundreds of individuals attended each of the protests, which usually began in the early afternoon of Friday and Saturday and went on until the early evening. Protesters burned tires and attempted to place Palestinian flags on the fence, damage the fence or cross it. Some threw stones at soldiers stationed on the Israeli side of the perimeter fence. During most of the demonstrations, there were dozens of Israeli soldiers the Israeli side of the fence, taking cover behind concrete cubes or dirt mounds, at a great distance from the demonstrators. The soldiers fired live rounds, rubber coated bullets and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. In the demonstrations that took place at Erez Crossing, soldiers fired at protesters from a military tower or from openings in the fence gate.
Research by B’Tselem field researchers in the Gaza Strip has found that up to 14 November 2015, 14 people were killed in these demonstrations, including two who were wounded and later succumbed to their wounds. Thirteen of the people killed were hit by live bullets and one by a tear gas canister that penetrated his chest. One fatality was a ten-year old boy who was struck in the back by a live bullet. 379 people were wounded in these demonstrations: 247 by live ammunition, 110 by rubber coated metal bullets and 22 were struck directly by tear gas canisters. Dozens more protesters suffered light injuries and were treated at the scene, or went to hospitals after inhaling tear gas.
Video: ( at link ) Soldiers fire live rounds without justification at a young man trying to hang a flag on the perimeter fence
On 6 November 2015, soldiers fired live rounds at Muhammad ‘Awad al-Bhisi, 22, as he ran toward the perimeter fence to place a flag he was carrying on the fence. Al-Bhisi was unarmed and posed no danger whatsoever to the soldiers, who – according to testimony collected by B’Tselem – were taking cover behind dirt mounds on the other side of the perimeter fence. Al-Bhisi was struck in the thigh and shin and was taken in serious condition to a Gaza hospital. He was later transferred for treatment in Israel, where he underwent surgery. Al-Bhisi’s shooting, as captured on video by Al-Kuds al-Akhbariyeh Network, illustrates the unlawful use of live rounds against protesters who pose no danger to anyone.
Nine of the fourteen dead were killed in demonstrations on the weekend of 9-10 October. These demonstrations ¬– which were the largest, with hundreds to one thousand protesters –saw a particularly large number of casualties, mostly struck by live rounds. B’Tselem’s research indicates that the protesters at the various sites threw stones at soldiers who were on the other side of the perimeter fence, set tires on fire and, in some locations, sabotaged the gates in the perimeter fence, even going through them in some instances. During the largest demonstration, with about a thousand protesters, soldiers positioned themselves about 100 meters away from the perimeter fence. Protesters managed to cross the perimeter fence, going as far as ten to 20 twenty meters into Israeli territory, 80 to 90 meters away from the soldiers. Protesters threw stones at the soldiers, who were firing live rounds. In demonstrations held that weekend, some 83 protesters were wounded, 68 of them by live rounds, 11 by rubber coated metal bullets and four were hit by tear-gas canisters.
in full: http://www.btselem.org/gaza_strip/20151116_gaza_demonstrations
