OCHA: Monthly Humanitarian Monitor - January 2013

Events during January highlighted a number of on this issue longstanding concerns relating to the protection of the civilian population in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt), which have a negative impact not just on the physical security of people, but also on their sources of livelihood.  In six separate incidents during the month, Israeli forces shot and killed six unarmed civilians with live ammunition, including two minors and one woman.  The fact that none of the victims appeared to have posed any threat that would justify a recourse to lethal force raises serious concerns about possible violations of the right to life.  The Israeli army has opened military police investigations into only four of the six cases, raising additional concerns about a lack of accountability.  Two of this month’s civilian fatalities and 13 of the civilian injuries occurred in areas in the vicinity of Gaza’s perimeter fence, alongside almost daily incidents of ‘warning fire’ by Israeli forces.

Full Report - 25 pages http://www.ochaopt.org/documents/ocha_opt_the_humanitarian_monitor_2013_02_28_english.pdf