Over the past weeks, Palestinian citizens of Israel have been protesting against the systemic failures of Israeli police to deal with the surge in crime in their communities, and a deadly incident in the town of Tamra, where police killed a criminal suspect and a bystander.
Adalah issued a statement strongly condemning the Israeli police killing of 22-year-old nursing student Ahmad Hijazi, during their attempt to thwart criminal activity in Tamra. Adalah also filed an urgent motion to the Nazareth Magistrates’ Court demanding the cancellation of a gag order imposed on the investigation into these killings. Yesterday, 7 February 2021, the court decided that the gag order would expire, unless the police appealed the decision. Read more
Adalah also sent a letter on 4 February 2021 to Israel’s attorney general and national police commander demanding that they instruct officers to refrain from dispersing protests against police violence and crime taking place in Arab towns; to stop the excessive use of force against demonstrators, and to open roads to allow access to the protests. During the past several weeks, a number of protesters were wounded when Israeli police employed brutal force, including rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas grenades, and batons during protests.
Israeli police violence is the result of systematic racism and incitement by the state, which perceives Palestinian citizens as enemies. Further, an Israeli police culture of impunity sends a dangerous message to officers that they will likely not be held accountable for their actions.
Throughout the protests, Adalah provided legal advice and assistance to individuals arrested or detained by Israeli police and demanded an investigation into the police’s violent conduct during the events. Read more |
