The video footage released by a local human rights group showing the moment an 11-year-old boy was killed by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank exposes Israel’s racist and savage treatment of defenseless civilian Palestinians, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates said today.
The Ministry said that the footage released by B’Tselem showing the moment Mohammad Al-Alami was killed in Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron, “reveals Israeli forces’ brutal and racist treatment of defenseless Palestinian civilians.”
The video footage shows Muayad Abu Sarah (al-‘Alami), a 37-year-old resident of Beit Ummar, driving to the entrance to the village with three of his sons; Muhammad (11) and ‘Anan (9) in the back seat of the car and Ahmad (5) in front. The father noticed soldiers by the military post and drove backwards. After driving about 30 meters, he turned around, and then the soldiers opened fire at the car, as reported by B’Tselem.
The car is seen approaching the post and then slowing down and driving backwards. Then, for no apparent reason, soldiers standing by the post are seen running towards the car and opening a massive volley of fire at the passengers.
The Ministry added that the video footage documenting the killing reveals the nature of regulations issued by the Israeli senior military commanders and policymakers to Israeli soldiers in the field, making it a matter of routine for them to unjustifiably open fire at and deal with Palestinians as a shooting range and granting them immunity.
It added that the Israeli military announcement that it has opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the case is merely an attempt to water down international condemnations and evade pressures over brutal treatment of Palestinians.
It noted that judging from previous experience, the role of such an investigation committee will not go beyond legitimizing and whitewashing the reality of the occupation and its atrocities, and ensuring that perpetrators escape accountability.
It held the Israeli government fully responsible for the crime while stressing that it was following up this case with the International Criminal Court in order to hold the perpetrators and those behind them accountable.
Source: Palestinian News & Info Agency