B'Tselem: Israeli security forces killed 660 Palestinians during 2006

[Tom Joad]

http://haaretz.com/hasen/spages/807007.html

According to an annual B'Tselem report, from the beginning of 2006 to December 27, Israeli security forces have killed 660 Palestinians, a figure more than three times the number of Palestinians killed in 2005, which was 197.

The data compiled by the human rights organization also indicated a significant decrease in Israeli casualties. Palestinians killed 23 Israelis in 2006 - 17 civilians, among them one minor, and six Israel Defense Forces soldiers. The figure constitutes less than half of the 50 Israelis killed in 2005.

B'Tselem also listed the overall figures for casualties since the beginning of the intifada, with Palestinian casualties at 4,005 and Israeli casualties at 1017, 701 of which were civilians.

The report states that 2006 saw an improvement in the realization on Israeli civilians' right to life, while, on the other hand, also seeing "a deterioration in the human rights situation in the occupied territories, particularly in the increase in civilians killed and the destruction of houses and infrastructure in the Gaza Strip."

According to the report, about half of the Palestinians killed, 322, did not take part in the hostilities at the time they were killed. 22 of those killed were targets of assassinations, and 141 were minors.

According to the report, the IDF demolished 292 Palestinian houses, 95 percent of them in the Gaza Strip. These were home to 1,769 people.

See also the detailed full report here:
http://www.btselem.org/english/Statistics/

[Scurrilous]

1. Report: Israel killed 660 Palestinians in 2006

B'Tselem says 205 of those killed did not participate in fighting, 405 Palestinians killed by IDF in Gaza alone since capture of Cpl. Gilad Shalit

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3345880,00.html

<snip>

"B'Tselem - The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories – published a report Thursday according to which 405 Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip alone since the capture of Cpl. Gilad Shalit, including 88 minors. Of these, the report said, 205 did not participate in the fighting when killed.

According to B'Tselem's research, from January to December 27, 2006, Israeli security forces killed a total of 660 Palestinians in the West Bank and in Israel.

Spokesperson Sarit Michaeli told Ynet that the organization investigates each Palestinian death by IDF fire. “On Novemenr 22 a 42-year-old Palestinian woman was killed, and the investigation we conducted found that she was in no way involved in the fighting,” she said.

"She was struck just 15 minutes after a Qassam rocket was fired toward Israel. The launching apparently took place near her home; she just stood by the window and was killed by a missile."



28 Dec. 06: 683 people killed in the conflict in 2006

http://www.btselem.org/english/Press_Releases/20061228.asp

B'Tselem publishes its 2006 annual statistics. This past year, we witnessed a deterioration in the human rights situation in the Occupied Territories , particularly in the increase in civilians killed and the destruction of houses and infrastructure in the Gaza Strip. At the same time, there was an improvement regarding violations of the right to life of Israeli civilians.

Casualties (figures in parenthesis indicate the total figure since the beginning of the intifada)

According to B'Tselem's research, from January to December 27, 2006, Israeli security forces killed 660 (4005) Palestinians in the West Bank and in Israel . This includes 141 (811) minors. At least 322 (1920) of those killed did not take part in the hostilities at the time they were killed. Another 22 (210) were targets of assassinations. In the Gaza Strip alone, since the capture of Cpl. Gilad Shalit, Israeli forces killed 405 Palestinians, including 88 minors. Of these, 205 did not participate in the fighting when killed.

Palestinians killed 17 (701) Israeli civilians in 2006, both in the West Bank and inside Israel . This includes 1 (119) minor. In addition, Palestinians killed 6 (316) members of the Israeli security forces.

House Demolitions

Israel demolished 292 houses military operations in the Occupied Territories , 279 of them in the Gaza Strip. These were home to 1,769 people. Some 80 of these demolitions were conducted after the home-owners received advance warning to the demolition. In addition, Israel demolished 42 homes in East Jerusalem that were built without a permit. These were home to about 80 people.

Checkpoints and restrictions on movement

Deep within the West Bank, Israel currently maintains 54 permanent checkpoints, staffed most of the time. 12 other checkpoints are within the city of Hebron . In addition, according to UN OCHA, there are on average some 160 flying checkpoints throughout the West Bank every week. In addition to the checkpoints, the Israeli military has erected hundreds of physical obstacles such as concrete blocks, dirt piles and trenches to restrict access to Palestinian communities. Palestinians have restricted access to some 41 roadways in the West Bank . Israelis have unlimited access to these roadways.

Prisoners and Detainees

As of November, Israel held 9,075 Palestinians in custody, including 345 minors. Of these, 738 (22 minors) were held in administrative detention, without trial and without knowing the charges against them.

[breakaleg]

2. The question is, why isn't there more discussion about this?

People die, they report the numbers, maybe provide context (or excuses) and it's over. And the IDF continues on without near enough care taken to protect civilians.

[Englander]

3. Kick for B'Tselem. n/t

[Tom Joad]

4. The reports at B'Tselem are a great reference. I suggest a folks bookmark the site on their browser