‘Two Palestinians slain by Israel without cause’
QATANA (West Bank) — Palestinian siblings gunned down at a West Bank checkpoint after approaching Israeli troops — with knives, according to Israel — were needlessly killed and could have been subdued without deadly force, their parents, witnesses and an Israeli lawmaker said on Thursday.
The fatal shootings of 24-yearold Maram Taha and her 16-yearold brother Ibrahim raise new questions about Israel’s use of lethal force against knife-carrying Palestinians in recent months, said the Israeli rights group B’Tselem.
Israeli police have said security forces at the Qalandiya checkpoint opened fire on the Taha siblings on Wednesday after they ignored calls to halt and Maram Taha threw a knife toward a policeman.
Police did not explain why lethal force was used after the sister dropped the knife and why her brother was fatally shot. Two knives were found on the teen, but only after he was killed, police said.
Three witnesses interviewed separately on Thursday said that the siblings were at least 20 to 25 metres from Israeli troops when they were shot. The witnesses, including a coffee vendor and a fruit seller, spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of repercussions from Israeli authorities.
Police spokeswoman Luba Samri said Thursday that security camera footage of the incident, which could presumably clear up questions, would not be released until an investigation is completed. She did not say when such a probe might be finished. In recent months, police have rarely released footage of stabbings. Dov Hanin, a dovish Israeli lawmaker, demanded that the security footage be released and quoted witnesses as saying the Taha siblings posed no threat. Wednesday’s shootings are part of a deadly routine in the volatile region in recent months.
Some 200 Palestinians have been shot dead by Israeli troops and civilians. —