Tel Aviv Allows Israeli Soldiers To Shoot Palestinians Throwing Stone And Molotovs

Illustration of Israeli security forces. (Wikimedia Commons/Israel Police)

JAKARTA - Palestine on Monday condemned the Israeli military's decision to allow soldiers to shoot Palestinian stone-throwers and Molotov cocktails.

In a statement, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry said Israel's decision was "a green light to carry out more field executions of Palestinians in accordance with the wishes, mood, and judgment of the army."

On Sunday, Israel's state-run broadcasting company reported that the Israeli military gave its soldiers permission to shoot Palestinians with stones and Molotov cocktails.

The broadcaster said the instructions were issued in recent weeks and circulated in written documents to Israeli soldiers operating in the occupied West Bank.

The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs denounced the instruction as a blatant disregard for international law, international humanitarian law, and human rights principles and an insult to the lives of citizens.

"The order is aimed at sowing fear and terror" among Palestinian youths, breaking their will to confront settlements and settlers," the ministry said, warning the Israeli government it would take full responsibility for the 'racist decision', citing Daily Sabah December 20.

The ministry pledged to bring international bodies, institutions, organizations, and the International Criminal Court (ICC) into this matter.

To note, Palestinian officials believe Israel's repeated targeting of their citizens in the West Bank is designed to pressure them to leave their lands.

In response to Israeli attacks, Palestinian youths often respond by throwing stones or Molotov cocktails. In turn, the Israeli army used metal bullets and tear gas canisters to disperse them.