Human rights watch criticises Israel for unjustifiable killing of children

On December 9, 2013, 15 year old Wajih al Ramahi was shot dead by israeli soldiers outside his school in Jalazone refugee camp. The Israeli authorities has not presented any evidence that the 15 year old boy who was fatally shot in his back, posed any threat to life that would justifie his kiling, writes Human Rights Watch in a report.According to Human Rights Watch it is inconclusive whether al-Ramahi had been throwing stones at the soldiers. But since he was shot in his back from a distance of approximately 200 meters he could possibly not have been a threat to the soldiers.”There was no apparent justification for the use of live ammunition” writes Human Rights Watch, adding that ”so long as the individual was not actively participating in hostilities. An attack on a civilian that is carried out intentionally or recklessly is a war crime.””Twice this year, Israeli soldiers hiding near schools, apparently to make arrests, have killed children who posed no apparent threat. If the past is any guide, these boys’ families can look forward to a prolonged, opaque, and fruitless process that does not hold perpetrators to account or deliver justice”, says Joe Stork, Human Rights Watch deputy Middle East director.Over 6700 palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces since year 2000, of them 1377 children, according to statistics from  B'Tselem. In the same period, Israel has only indicted 16 security officials for unlawful killing, and convicted only six of them, according to Yesh Din, an Israeli rights group. The longest jail sentence imposed was for seven months.