JPANet Action Alert: Urge Israel for transparent investigation in Palestine Shooting

Action alert on the Middle East: two Palestinian teenagers were killed during clashes with Israeli forces near Ramallah on May 15

According to news reports, two Palestinian teenagers were killed during clashes with Israeli forces near Ramallah on May 15 as they and others marked Nakba (Catastrophe) Day — the 66th anniversary of the establishment of the State of Israel. At least one other Palestinian youth was wounded by gunfire in the same incident which followed a stone-throwing demonstration in support of a prisoners’ hunger strike at the nearby Ofer military prison in Beitunia.

The demonstration reportedly began peacefully and then turned violent when Israeli forces clashed with Palestinian youths, according to the New York Times. According to +972, “following the incident, the IDF spokesperson claimed that no live ammunition was used by the military that day. However, the medical team that treated the teens said that they were wounded from live bullets.”

Defense for Children International – Palestine says “the use of live ammunition by soldiers on unarmed Palestinian civilians, including children, has been a recent area of concern to human rights groups. In February, Amnesty International released a report finding that the Israeli army uses reckless force throughout the West Bank.” The United Church of Christ’s Global Ministries has a relationship with Defense for Children International – Palestine. 

Click here to take action – write your senators and representative and urge them to ask the State Department to follow-up with the Government of Israel on the U.S. call for a prompt and transparent investigation of the incident. Tell them that Israel should also hold accountable those individuals responsible for this incident. Express your support for the U.N.’s call for an independent and transparent investigation as well.