13 January 2001

Israeli Occupying Forces’ Latest Act of Brutality:Israeli Soldiers Kill Shakir Mohammad Faisal, aged 21, in Hebron then Parade his Crumpled Body Through the Streets in Barbaric Spectacle

According to eyewitness testimonies gathered by al-Haq and video documentation of the incident, the following is a reconstruction of the events surrounding the death of Shakir.

On January 12, 2001 confrontations erupted in Hebron between Palestinian protestors and the Israeli Occupying Forces. The Israeli Occupying Forces used tear gas, rubber bullets and live ammunition. Shakir participated in the demonstration and was throwing stones. 

According to eyewitness testimonies, Israeli troops approached an alley in which Shakir was positioned and opened fire.  Several soldiers then entered the alley firing indiscriminately.  There is no evidence of shots being fired from the Palestinian side of the demonstrations prior to this incident and eyewitnesses claim that the Israeli soldiers gave no warning before they opened fire.  The soldiers soon emerged from the alley dragging Shakir’s body and brandishing a weapon, which they claimed was in Shakir’s possession.  The soldiers proceeded to drag Shakir’s body for approximately 250 meters through the streets of Hebron.  His body was dropped on several occasions and his head was allowed to trail along on the ground, bouncing off of curbs, steps, and stones. 

The Israeli military claims that Shakir threw an explosive device and fired shots at the Israeli troops.  They claim that Shakir’s body was dragged away from the demonstrations, which occurred in a joint Palestinian-Israeli controlled area (H1) of the city, to an Israeli controlled area  (H2) in order to search it for weapons.  His body is still being held by the Israeli Military Authorities. 

The claims of the Israeli Occupying Forces have not been confirmed through the testimonies of witnesses to the incident.  There is no explanation given for why Israeli forces opened fire without first giving warning and no justification can be given for the barbaric manner in which Shakir’s body was dragged through the streets.  Even if it should be proven that Shakir was armed, an explanation must be given for why no warning was issued and why the Israeli troops opened fire prior to shots being fired from the Palestinian side.

Recently it was reported that the “IDF” has decided to relax its open fire regulations in areas determined to be “dangerous”.  Soldiers in these areas have been given permission to fire on armed Palestinians without giving warning or gaining approval to shoot from their commanders.  Al-Haq wishes to express its concern over any actions, taken on the part of the Israeli military, which will serve to exacerbate violence and lead to more bloodshed.  Killings such as that of Shakir will increase in number if the Israeli military does not tighten and make public its open fire regulations.             

The disrespect shown for Shakir’s body must also be addressed. Even though this incident was not an anomaly, blatant violations of Palestinians’ human rights occur in the Occupied Palestinian Territories daily, the Israeli soldiers must be held accountable for their unconscionable actions. The lenient attitude the Israeli Authorities have taken to gross violations of Palestinians’ human rights can only be seen as encouraging such actions.  Very few investigations have been opened into human rights violations committed by the Israeli Occupying forces.  A high level policy of denying responsibility for atrocities and placing blame on the victims of abuse has allowed Israeli soldiers to believe that they can act with impunity.  The soldiers involved in killing and mutilating Shakir al-Husseini must be held responsible for their actions and the international community must immediately place pressure upon the Israeli government to comply with all international laws and UN resolutions that apply to the situation in the Occupied Territories.        

Al- Haq calls for an immediate investigation into the shooting and degradation of Shakir al-Husseini and demands that the Israeli government return his body to his family for burial.  We also call upon both the Israeli and Palestinian Authorities to carry out full investigations into this killing.  We ask that the Palestinian Authority persuade the family of Shakir to perform an autopsy on his body following its return. 

Al-Haq reiterates its call upon the International Community to demand that Israel tighten and make public the exact wording of its open fire regulations to help protect civilians and non-combatants

Al-Haq also wishes to express its grave concern over the lack of action on the part of the international community to combat human rights violations occurring in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Keeping this in mind, al-Haq renews its urging of the International Community to provide a protection force for the Palestinian people. Bearing in mind the Security Council’s failure to take a decision on providing a protection force for the Occupied Palestinian Territories, al-Haq calls upon them to reconsider sending such a force.  A protection force that can defend Palestinian civilians is needed immediately and until the end of the occupation.
 
In light of the continuous deterioration of the human rights situation in the Occupied Territories, al-Haq also asks that the States Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention take the necessary measures to pressure the Israeli government to stop its excessive use of force and aggression against Palestinian civilians.