B'Tselem: IDF using deadly force on protesters

New report by human rights group claims Israeli security forces 'systematically violate' rules of engagement in West Bank. IDF dismisses brief as 'one-sided, biased narrative'

Elior Levy|Published: 01.28.13 , 07:59

A new report released Monday by the B'Tselem human rights group alleged that over the past eight years at least 10 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank over the IDF's use of crowd-control measures.

The group claims that the Israeli military "systematically violates" protocols associated with the use of crowd-control measures, which include tear gas, rubber-coated bullets and stun grenades – to name a few.

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The report accuses the IDF of "using deadly force to disperse unarmed Palestinian protesters" in the West Bank, saying that "Israeli forces have killed 56 people since 2005 in clashes with rock-throwing Palestinians.

"The Israeli military's standing orders explicitly state that live ammunition may not be fired at stone-throwers."

Riot in Shufat neighborhood in north Jerusalem (Photo: AFP)

Of the Palestinian fatalities since 2005, six were killed by rubber-coated metal bullets and two by teargas canisters, both supposedly non-lethal weapons which were fired directly at protesters, B'Tselem said.

The other 48 protesters killed were hit by live ammunition, according to the group.

"In practice, members of the security forces make almost routine use of these weapons in unlawful, dangerous ways, and the relevant Israeli authorities do too little to prevent the recurrence of this conduct," the report said.

The IDF issued the following statement: "When dealing with illegal and violent riots, the IDF is making every effort to minimize any harm to the protesters and its top operational goal is to contain the event sans any casualties.

"The report is lacking factual merit, especially in its attempt to imply that the IDF's safety protocols and rules of engagement are unclear and cannot be implemented correctly.

"Since B'Tselem does not have a copy of the IDF's operational protocols," the IDF stressed, "The report presents a biased narrative, relying primarily on incidents that are either old or still under investigation by the Military Police."

You can contact Elior Levy, Ynet's Palestinian Affairs Correspondent, at: paldesk@gmail.com