open-fire regulations

An Israeli Border Police officer points his weapon at journalists and Palestinian paramedics during clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinian protesters in north Ramallah, near the Beit El checkpoint, occupied West Bank, December 22, 2017. (Oren Ziv/Activestills)

The rebellion of Israel’s second army

Outgoing IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi hands over to his successor a ‘policing army’ that is more autonomous, settler-led, and lethal than ever.

By Yagil Levy December 26, 2022

Israeli snipers seen on the border with Gaza during the Great March of Return, March 30, 2018. (IDF Spokesperson)

Top court hears first major challenge to IDF’s live fire in Gaza

Human rights groups argue the army’s open-fire regulations violate international law. The government claims the use of deadly force is justified — even against unarmed demonstrators. Israel’s High Court of Justice heard on Monday a major challenge to the IDF’s rules of engagement, which permit the use of live fire against demonstrators who pose no danger…

By Joshua Leifer April 30, 2018

Palestinian protesters demonstrate and burn tires near the border with Israel in the Gaza Strip, as seen from the Israeli side of the border, April 13, 2018. (Sliman Khader/Flash90)

Rights groups: Gaza protests aren’t combat, IDF must stop shooting protesters

Israeli human rights organizations demand High Court order the state to revoke the rules of engagement that permit shooting unarmed demonstrators. After three weeks in which Israeli army snipers have killed dozens and wounded well over 1,200 protesters inside the Gaza Strip, four prominent human rights organizations petitioned Israel’s High Court of Justice on Sunday, demanding that the court order the…

By Edo Konrad April 15, 2018

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Layth Abu Na’im, 16, was killed by Israeli security forces on January 30, 2018. (Courtesy of B'Tselem)

‘IDF killed five unarmed Palestinians in a single month’

The Israeli army shot and killed five unarmed Palestinians in January, all of whom were shot in the upper body, none of whom posed a danger to the soldiers. The Israeli army shot and killed five unarmed Palestinians last month, all of whom were shot in the upper body during clashes and demonstrations in the West…

By Joshua Leifer February 12, 2018

File photo of Israeli police aiming their rifles at Palestinian protesters. (Activestills.org)

Police allowed to shoot stone throwers: Botched redaction reveals rules of engagement

Israeli police are pressured to release new rules of engagement for using live ammunition. The document reveals cops are allowed to shoot stone throwers. The kicker: police tried to black out some of the regulations, but their black marker was running low on ink. Israel Police revealed its live-fire rules of engagement Monday in response…

By +972 Magazine July 5, 2016

An Israeli solider with a Ruger riffle lies on the ground during a demonstration commemorating the death of Palestinian minister, Ziad Abu Ein, in the West Bank village of Turmus Ayya, north of Ramallah, December 19, 2014. (photo: Oren Ziv)

Using deadly force — as a first resort

The ‘mistaken’ killing of a 13-year-old boy by the Israeli army is a reminder that all too often, Israeli security forces use deadly force against Palestinians as a first resort. The Israeli army sharpshooter not only shot the wrong person, he or she also shot the wrong person in the wrong part of the body…

By Michael Schaeffer Omer-Man October 6, 2015

Israeli riot police pictured during clashes in Kafr Kanna, in the wake of the shooting death of Khir Hamdan. (photo: Yotam Ronen/Activestills.org)

15 years on, it seems October 2000 killings weren’t an aberration

Israel’s ‘new’ policy of shooting stone throwers is directed exclusively against Arabs from East Jerusalem and the Naqab (Negev), while ensuring that customary rules of engagement are applied to Jewish stone throwers. By Mohammad Bassam The Israeli security cabinet, backed by the attorney general, recently approved a series of measures that, according to the government, are…

By Haokets October 5, 2015

Mounted Israeli policemen chase a Bedouin youth during a protest against the Israeli government's Prawer Plan, on road 31 on November 30, 2013 near the town of Hura, Israel.

Is Bibi using J’lem violence as an excuse to target all Arabs?

Netanyahu is trying to expand the open-fire regulations so that they target Arabs inside Israel. The outcome? Only more bloodshed. By John Brown* and Michal Rotem For the past few weeks it has been difficult not to avoid reports on stone throwing in East Jerusalem. Government representatives compete with one another over who will offer…

By +972 Magazine September 26, 2015

Palestinian youth take cover behind a door as they shoot fireworks toward Israeli Border Police during clashes at a checkpoint between the Shuafat refugee camp and the rest of Jerusalem, November 6, 2014. (Photo by Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)

Why does Netanyahu think he can stop rock throwing?

If live ammunition hasn’t stopped stone throwing in the West Bank, what makes the prime minister think it will work in Jerusalem? The one thing we can be sure the change in policy will do is kill more Palestinians. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants security forces to start shooting Palestinian stone throwers. During the…

By Michael Schaeffer Omer-Man September 20, 2015