IOF Kill Palestinian Child and University Student South of Nablus

On Saturday afternoon, 20 March 2010, the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) killed two Palestinian civilians, including a child, in cold blood in Iraq Bourin village, south of Nablus. IOF intentionally fired at the two civilians from a close range. The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) condemns this crime, which demonstrates total disregard for the lives of Palestinian civilians. PCHR stresses that failure to open investigation with suspected Israeli soldiers encourages them to perpetrate more of such crimes.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR and according to statements gives by eyewitnesses, at approximately 11:30 on 20 March 2010, IOF moved into the east of Iraq Borin village, south of Nablus. A number of Palestinian boys gathered and threw stones at Israeli soldier who immediately responded by firing, but no casualties were reported. The Palestinian boys withdrew into the village, while IOF took position in the east of the village. At approximately 15:00, a Palestinian civil Ford transit minibus, driven by Zakareya ‘Adel Qadous, arrived in the village from Nablus. In the meanwhile, Israeli soldiers were positioning approximately 30 miters to the east of the intersection of Iraq Borin village, were out of their jeeps. The driver drove to the west of the village’s entrance that branches to the east and to the west. Approximately 100 meters far from the intersection, specifically in front of the mosque of the village, the driver found out that there were inflaming tires and that the street was closed. He stopped and Mohammed Ibrahim Abdul Qader Qadous, 16, and Usaid Abdul Naser Qadous, 20, stepped down from the minibus. As the driver turned around totravel back to Nablus, Israeli soldiers opened fire at Mohammed, who was wounded by a bullet to the heart, and Usaid who was wounded by a bullet to the head. A number of young Palestinians who were in the scene transferred the two wounded persons to the minibus. After the minibus drove for approximately 20 meters, Israeli military jeeps tried to stop it, but the driver managed to escape and reach Nablus Specialized Hospital. Mohammed arrived dead to the hospital, while Usaid underwent a prolonged surgery, but he was pronounced dead on Sunday morning, 21 March 2010. Usaid was student at an-Najah National University in Nablus.

PCHR reiterates its condemnation of this serious crime and:

1. Asserts that this crime is part of a series of war crimes committed by IOF in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which reflect total disregard for the lives of Palestinian civilians.

2. Calls upon the international community to take immediate action to put an end to such crimes. PCHR further renews its demand for the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfill their obligation under Article 1 which stipulates “the High Contracting Parties undertake to respect and to ensure respect for the present Convention in all circumstances,” as well as their obligations under Article 146 which requires that the Contracting Parties prosecute persons alleged to commit grave breaches of the Fourth Geneva Convention. These grave breaches constitute war crimes under Article 147 of the same Convention and under Protocol I Additional to Geneva Conventions.