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Two Incidents in the West Bank: Palestinian Man Killed, and Body Exhumed by Settlers

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Two Separate Incidents of Violence Against Palestinians in the Occupied West Bank

Two separate events involving Palestinian fatalities and Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank have been reported by multiple sources, detailing the circumstances and differing accounts of the incidents.

Incident 1: Killing of Nayef Samaro in Nablus

Nayef Samaro, a 25-year-old Palestinian man, was shot and killed by an Israeli soldier on May 3, 2024, in Nablus, West Bank. According to his family, Samaro was on his way to the hospital where his wife was about to give birth to their first child.

Details of the Event

  • Samaro was killed during an Israeli military raid on a busy shopping street in Nablus.
  • His family reported that he was shot in the back of the head while leaving his place of work at a restaurant to go to the hospital.
  • Security footage reportedly shows him attempting to leave the area.
  • Samaro's wife, Raghed al-Shami, gave birth to their son, Yaman, the following day.

Official Statements

"The killing was 'killing for free'... Israeli military courts are not independent." — Ghassan Daghlas, Governor of Nablus

  • The Israeli military stated that during an operation in Nablus, Palestinians threw rocks at soldiers, who responded with crowd-dispersal measures and later live fire.
  • The Israeli military did not respond to requests for specific information about Samaro's killing or whether an investigation has been opened.
  • Ajith Sunghay, head of the UN Human Rights Office for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, said there is impunity and a lack of accountability for violence by Israeli settlers or the military.
  • Samaro's family stated they do not expect justice through Israeli courts.

Legal and Statistical Context

  • Complaints against Israeli soldiers in the West Bank are handled by the Military Advocate General.
  • Yesh Din, an Israeli human rights group, reports a prosecution rate of less than 0.5% for killings of Palestinians and no convictions of soldiers for such killings since the Gaza war began in October 2023.
  • The UN reports that 1,103 Palestinians, including 241 children, have been killed by Israeli settlers or security forces in the occupied West Bank since October 7, 2023.

Incident 2: Exhumation of Hussein Asasa's Body

On a separate Friday, Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank exhumed the body of 85-year-old Hussein Asasa from a cemetery near the settlement of Sa-Nur.

Details of the Event

  • Armed settlers with spades opened the grave and forced the family to remove the body.
  • The family reported that the settlers threatened to use a bulldozer if the family did not comply.
  • The family had coordinated the burial in advance with Israeli security forces, who granted them 30 minutes to bury the deceased.
  • During the funeral, settlers shouted and heckled.
  • Shortly after burial, settlers began digging up the grave. Israeli soldiers were present but did not force the settlers to leave.

Official Statements

"The settlers told us: 'Either you take the dead body away right now or we'll use a bulldozer to remove him from the grave and dump him for you.'" — Mohammed Asasa, son of the deceased

  • The Israeli military stated that soldiers confiscated digging tools from the settlers and remained at the site to "prevent further friction." The military condemned actions that violate the dignity of the living and the deceased.
  • Ajith Sunghay, head of the UN Human Rights Office for the occupied Palestinian territory, called the incident "despicable" and an example of the "constant failure" of the Israeli military's obligation to protect Palestinians.

Background

  • The settlement of Sa-Nur was re-established in 2023 after being evacuated in 2005 under an Israeli disengagement plan.
  • The Asasa family has buried their dead in the cemetery for generations. After the settlement's return, the family required permits from the Israeli military to access the cemetery.
  • Since October 2023, attacks on Palestinians by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank have increased. Settlement building has accelerated, and perpetrators are rarely prosecuted.