Updates

Every day, Israel determines what the lives of Palestinians in the West Bank will look like – while they, themselves, are barred from taking part in decisions that shape their present and their future. Israel uses its power in a violent, arbitrary fashion, with blatant disregard for the safety, wellbeing and quality of life of the Palestinians who live under its control.

Every day, Israel determines what the lives of Palestinians in the West Bank will look like – while they, themselves, are barred from taking part in decisions that shape their present and their future. Israel uses its power in a violent, arbitrary fashion, with blatant disregard for the safety, wellbeing and quality of life of the Palestinians who live under its control.

About a month ago, soldiers raided ‘Urif for 3 nights in a row. For years, the village has suffered attacks by settlers with the backing, and at times active support, of the military. The soldiers entered 14 homes, kept the inhabitants confined, ransacked the houses and intimated residents. Soldiers invading Palestinians’ homes in the dead of night, waking entire families, has long since become part of the routine imposed by the occupation regime in the West Bank. These actions, clearly intended to intimidate the population, are unjustified and are but one more example of the military’s arbitrary abuse of its power.

Every day, Israel determines what the lives of Palestinians in the West Bank will look like – while they, themselves, are barred from taking part in decisions that shape their present and their future. Israel uses its power in a violent, arbitrary fashion, with blatant disregard for the safety, wellbeing and quality of life of the Palestinians who live under its control.

Every day, Israel determines what the lives of Palestinians in the West Bank will look like – while they, themselves, are barred from taking part in decisions that shape their present and their future. Israel uses its power in a violent, arbitrary fashion, with blatant disregard for the safety, wellbeing and quality of life of the Palestinians who live under its control.

In Aug. and Sept. B’Tselem investigated 3 cases in which Israeli security forces arrested 4 Palestinians, incl. a minor, in order to force their relatives to turn themselves in: police came to a home in the middle of the night, searched it and then randomly arrested other family members, making it clear they would be released only once the wanted individual turned himself in. It is unacceptable and unlawful to arrest individuals suspected of no wrongdoing in order to pressure others to turn themselves in. The number of cases and the number of officers involved indicate the incidents are not some individual officer’s whim. Instead, they demonstrate the intolerable ease with which Israeli security forces violate Palestinians’ rights, disrupt their lives and undermine their safety.

Every day, Israel determines what the lives of Palestinians in the West Bank will look like – while they, themselves, are barred from taking part in decisions that shape their present and their future. Israel uses its power in a violent, arbitrary fashion, with blatant disregard for the safety, wellbeing and quality of life of the Palestinians who live under its control.

Hanaa and Jamal Karamah live with their six children Area H1, Hebron. In Aug.-Sept. 2018, soldiers came to their home in the middle of the night four times. First, they demanded that the parents come in for an ISA investigation. After they did not, the soldiers returned and arrested them, employing unwarranted violence against several family members. These night raids, which take place also in areas ostensibly under full PA control, have become routine across the West Bank. They are carried out with no need for a search warrant, whenever and wherever the military chooses. These actions, which are clearly designed to intimidate the residents, are completely unjustifiable.

In the first half of January 2018, Israeli security forces arrested at least 139 Palestinians, including 18 minors; raided towns and villages at least 137 times, and at least 68 homes; and set up at least 173 flying checkpoints.

On 15 Aug. 2018, at about 2:00 A.M., soldiers with dogs entered 10 homes in the village of ‘Azzun. They woke the inhabitants, kept some confined to rooms in their homes, intimidated children and conducted violent searches. Raids on homes in the dead of night, in which soldiers wake families and ransack their houses, are by now a routine part of the occupation in the West Bank. These actions, which are clearly intended to intimidate the population, are unjustified. This is yet another example of daily Palestinian life under occupation.