The Coalition for Integrity and Accountability (AMAN) Calls on the Prime Minister to Hold Accountable All Those Who Issued and Carried Out the Orders to Open Fire in the Tubas Incident, and to Announce the Investigation Results to the Public
Ramallah – The Coalition for Integrity and Accountability (AMAN) sent an official letter to the Palestinian Prime Minister, Mohammad Mustafa, calling for an urgent, independent, and transparent criminal investigation into the shooting incident that took place in Tubas Governorate. The incident resulted in the death of a 14-year-old boy and his younger sister, aged 4, and caused injuries to their 16-year-old brother and their father, Samer Samara, prior to his arrest, during a pursuit carried out by members of the security forces.
The Coalition for Integrity and Accountability (AMAN) expressed its deep concern over the incident, noting that its severity is not limited to the tragic outcomes but also extends to alarming indicators of abuse of authority and violations of the rules on the use of force as stipulated in national laws and international human rights standards.
The coalition emphasized that opening fire during an arrest operation, under circumstances that do not pose an imminent threat, does not justify the use of lethal force. Such action constitutes a serious violation of the principles of necessity and proportionality and undermines citizens’ trust in law enforcement institutions.
Accordingly, the coalition called for the identification of both individual and institutional responsibilities for the incident, and for holding accountable everyone who issued or carried out the orders to open fire, should their responsibility be established. It also stressed the need to announce the investigation results to the public, ensuring transparency and reinforcing citizens’ trust in the rule of law.
The coalition also called for a clear reaffirmation of the prohibition on using live ammunition during arrests or pursuits, except within the narrow limits allowed by law and consistent with international standards, which limit lethal force to situations of imminent threat to life. It further urged a review and update of engagement rules and instructions on the use of force within security agencies to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
The Coalition for Integrity and Accountability (AMAN) concluded its letter by stressing that the rule of law is measured by the state’s ability to control its powers, hold its institutions accountable, and ensure that impunity does not prevail.
