The men, allegedly suspects in the death of a settler rabbi days earlier, were shot dead at close range in their homes, in two cases as their families watched. Detention raids are a regular part of the Israeli occupation, particularly in the north recently.
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, there are on average 103 search and arrest operations conducted each week in the West Bank; only three in the past three years have resulted in the death of the "wanted" individuals. All three deaths occurred during the 26 December raids.
At the time, Israeli forces said they were killed during an "attempt to locate and arrest" the men. Reports indicated that the men were all shot because they presented a security risk.
According to B'Tselem, the "killing of the three Fatah activists in Nablus was unlawful," and "the soldiers' violence against the families of the three men and the damage caused to their property" were matters that warranted investigation.
The organization investigated the reports, according to its statement, including interviews with nine relatives of the men who were killed. "Examination of the findings at the scene and of medical reports, revealed a different version" of events than those presented by the military, B'Tselem said.
"The investigation raises a grave suspicion that the soldiers acted unlawfully and, at least in the cases of Ghassan Abu Sharakh and Nader As-Sarkaji, made no attempt to arrest them before shooting them to death. This, in spite of the fact that the two had obeyed the order to exit their home, and were not carrying arms.
"As there were no eyewitnesses to the killing of Anan Subuh, B'Tselem cannot ascertain the circumstances in which he was shot by soldiers. However, B'Tselem's investigation indicates that, although a weapon was found in his hiding place, 'Anan Subuh did not fire at the soldiers. The IDF's Spokesperson's announcements regarding this incident did not mention an exchange of gunfire that night."
Moreover, the organization stated, as the men were "merely suspects," the army's duty was to arrest them and bring them to trial. Israel denies that it carries out assassinations in the West Bank, yet B'Tselem's investigation raise a grave suspicion that the soldiers acted as if they were on an assassination mission, not an arrest operation.
Background: This is one of the first experiences I had in Nablus. Please look back to the report about three men in Nablus who were murdered. I took those pictures.
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