West Bank, ALRAY - Human Rights Watch has stated that the Israeli army is killing Palestinian children without any accountability. The organization noted that last year was the deadliest for Palestinian children in the West Bank in 15 years, and 2023 is continuing at the same pace or even surpassing the numbers of 2022.
Israeli forces have reportedly killed at least 34 children in the West Bank by August 22nd of this year.
The Associate Director of the Children's Rights Division at the organization, Bill Van Esveld, stated, "Israeli forces are killing Palestinian children living under occupation at an increasing rate."
He further added, "Unless Israel's allies, especially the United States, exert pressure on them to change course, more Palestinian children will be killed."
The organization, while documenting certain instances of child killings carried out by the Israeli army, highlighted the excessive use of force by Israeli authorities against Palestinians, including children, in situations where the use of lethal force was not justified according to international standards.
The organization's documentation revealed that at least 614 Palestinians categorized as civilians by the United Nations have been killed by Israeli forces in both the Gaza Strip and the West Bank during this period. Remarkably, the Israeli organization Yesh Din has reported that merely three soldiers have been found guilty of Palestinian killings, and they all received brief military community service sentences.
The organization additionally emphasized that these killings occur within a context where Israeli authorities are committing crimes against humanity, including racial segregation and persecution against Palestinians, including children. These findings have been documented by Human Rights Watch and other human rights organizations.
The organization highlighted that the then-Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Fatou Bensouda, initiated an official investigation in 2021 into serious crimes committed in Palestine.
The organization affirmed that international human rights standards prohibit law enforcement officials from "intentionally using lethal firearms," except in situations where avoiding their use is completely impossible to protect lives.
The organization clarified that Palestinians in the West Bank are entitled to protection under the Geneva Conventions and international human rights law. Governments are obligated to ensure effective remedies for individuals to claim their rights, including the right to life.
The organization pointed out that the Israeli army does not automatically initiate criminal investigations in cases where soldiers use lethal force against Palestinians in the West Bank, even if a complaint is filed.
Human Rights Watch called on the Israeli army to cease its unlawful use of lethal force against Palestinians, including children. The organization also urged the Israeli government to issue clear public and confidential directives to all forces, explicitly prohibiting the intentional use of lethal force.
The United Nations Secretary-General was called upon to include the Israeli armed forces in his annual report on grave violations against children in armed conflicts for the year 2023. This was due to their responsibility for the killing and maiming of Palestinian children.
The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court was also urged to expedite investigations conducted by her office in Palestine, including those concerning grave violations committed against children.
The organization stressed the importance of foreign governments, including the United States which has committed $3.8 billion in military aid to Israel for 2023, linking their assistance to tangible and verifiable actions by Israel to put an end to its severe violations, which also encompass crimes against humanity.
Members of the US House of Representatives called for support of the "Children and Palestinian Family Rights Protection Act," which aims to prohibit the unlawful use of American funding in military detention, assaults on children, destruction of Palestinian property, and seizing land for settlements in the occupied territories.
