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Since the start of the Gaza war more than two years ago, Israeli forces have been carrying out repeated raids inside Palestinian towns in the occupied West Bank. They say they're rooting out militants. But when soldiers encounter civilians, things can quickly turn deadly. NPR's Hadeel Al-Shalchi brings us this report of one incident caught on camera. And a warning to listeners, this story contains the sound of gunfire.
HADEEL AL-SHALCHI, BYLINE: The old city of Nablus is one of the West Bank's most bustling commercial hubs. Made up of tight alleys and white stone archways, vendors line the streets selling nuts, sweets and vegetables. Since the war in Gaza began, the Israeli military often takes over the city and arrests wanted suspects. But on June 10, one military raid turned deadly for two brothers who were not wanted. It was captured on video by journalists in the area. According to footage, the incident occurs in a narrow street, litter scattered everywhere. On either side are shuttered shops, and the air is hazy with smoke.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #1: (Non-English language spoken).
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #2: (Non-English language spoken).
AL-SHALCHI: People are shouting, ambulances wailing, and women are seen trying to flee. One resident, 40-year-old Nidal Amirah (ph), an off-duty officer in the Palestinian Authority security forces, tries to pass a group of soldiers to help a friend evacuate his family, according to witnesses. The Israeli human rights group B'Tselem analyzed videos from different angles to investigate.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #3: (Non-English language spoken).
AL-SHALCHI: Wearing a white shirt and a red baseball cap, Amirah walks towards the soldiers with his arms in the air. Palestinian bystanders call for him to turn back, but Amirah keeps walking towards the Israeli soldiers. He lifts his shirt to show that he's unarmed. Their conversation is inaudible. The soldiers point their guns at Amirah, and a few seconds later, one of them kicks him in the belly.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #4: (Non-English language spoken).
AL-SHALCHI: The soldiers begin to beat him. Amirah's brother, arms in the air, runs up, and the soldiers fire at his feet.
(SOUNDBITE OF GUNSHOTS)
AL-SHALCHI: Two soldiers then drag the brother into an alleyway, where a shot is then fired off camera. Other soldiers begin to drag Amirah into the alley also.
(SOUNDBITE OF GUNSHOTS)
AL-SHALCHI: Suddenly, a burst of shooting rings out. The brother lies motionless. But Amirah breaks free from the soldiers and limps away a few feet.
(SOUNDBITE OF GUNSHOTS)
AL-SHALCHI: That's when a soldier shoots him in the back at close range, according to B'Tselem's analysis.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #5: (Non-English language spoken).
AL-SHALCHI: Palestinian bystanders shout, they've killed him. They've killed him. Nidal's red hat lies on the ground at his feet.
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UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #6: (Non-English language spoken).
AL-SHALCHI: In a statement the day of the incident, the Israeli military said that two, quote, "terrorists" attempted to steal the weapon of a soldier during that raid in Nablus. It said, as a result, several shots were fired, injuring a soldier and forcing them to shoot and kill the Palestinian men. B'Tselem says their video analysis disproves the military's claim. Shai Pranes (ph) is the public outreach director at B'Tselem. He says Israel is no longer even pretending to care about such killings.
SHAI PRANES: And what we're seeing is a total impunity for any Israeli who's harming Palestinian. So that goes all through Israel's system, whether it's the military so called or allegedly investigative mechanism or in the Israel Civil Court.
AL-SHALCHI: The Israeli military did not respond to an NPR request for comment about B'Tselem's video investigation. Pranes says this is another example of what they call a summary execution and one of many cases of Israeli troops killing unarmed Palestinians when they've surrendered. Such shootings have set off a climate of fear in the West Bank.
Abdullah (ph) is a 24-year-old journalist from Nablus. He documented the Amirah incident. Abdullah, who only wants to use his first name for fear of retaliation from the Israeli military, says the killings have become a daily reality for Palestinians in the West Bank.
ABDULLAH: (Speaking Arabic).
AL-SHALCHI: "We now see killings as something that's routine," he says, "but all we want is to live." Abdullah says he's afraid he'll be next.
ABDULLAH: (Speaking Arabic).
AL-SHALCHI: "I'm terrified of checkpoints," he says. "It's a policy of collective punishment." The Amirah brothers' bodies are still being held by the Israeli military. Nidal Amirah's wife, Manal (ph), says there's no way for her to appeal to get her husband's body back.
MANAL: (Non-English language spoken).
AL-SHALCHI: "All I want is to say goodbye, for him to have a grave," she says, "a place where I can visit him."
Hadeel Al-Shalchi, NPR News, Nablus. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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