A/HRC/34/36 East Jerusalem. The event was facilitated by the Commission, with support from the international community, including OHCHR. The High Commissioner encourages the Government to continue on this path of dialogue and consultations with all stakeholders. 1. West Bank Excessive use of force and unlawful killings 53. OHCHR monitored a number of allegations of excessive use of force and extrajudicial killing by Palestinian security forces. On 18 August 2016, two Palestinian security officers were shot dead during an arrest campaign led by Palestinian security forces in the old city of Nablus. The next day, those forces carried out a raid and killed two alleged suspects in unclear circumstances. On 23 August, Palestinian security forces arrested a third suspect, a 50-year-old police officer, Ahmed Halawa. One of his family members told OHCHR that Mr. Halawa had been severely beaten during his arrest at his house. Mr. Halawa was taken to Jeneid prison in Nablus, where officers of the Palestinian security forces allegedly beat him to death. Senior officials, including the Governor of Nablus, have made admissions to that effect. Images of the victim’s body circulated on social media reveal the extent of the beating. The Palestinian Authority immediately established a committee of inquiry into the apparent extrajudicial execution but, at the time of reporting, OHCHR had not been able to obtain information on the outcome. 54. On 7 June 2016, Palestinian security forces shot and killed Adel Jaradat, a 21-yearold man, in Silat al Harithiya village, northern West Bank. Mr. Jaradat was shot in the thigh while commuting to work when Palestinian security forces were firing live ammunition at a crowd that had begun throwing stones. He died, apparently owing to severe bleeding. The Governor of Jenin announced an investigation on the same day. Palestinian officials informed OHCHR that the investigation was still ongoing. Arbitrary arrest and detention 55. During the reporting period, the Independent Commission for Human Rights received 264 complaints of arbitrary detention in the West Bank. OHCHR also continued to receive reports of arbitrary arrest and detention by Palestinian security forces; mainly of individuals affiliated with opposition groups or media professionals and bloggers critical of Palestinian authorities.64 56. The Independent Commission for Human Rights documented 71 complaints concerning cases of detention in which a court order to release the accused had not been implemented by Palestinian security forces. In many cases, the forces effectively circumvent the order by rearresting the same person on a new charge.65 57. One emblematic case monitored by OHCHR occurred on 18 August 2016 when a Palestinian man was arrested by the General Intelligence Service for “raising funds for an illegal society”. He told OHCHR that, during the interrogation, officers repeatedly said they were not interested in his activities, but that he needed to convince his sister to stop her political activities at university. On 25 August, a court ordered his release, but he was rearrested as soon as he stepped outside the gates of the General Intelligence Service premises. He was not brought before the prosecutor or court until 1 September, despite the fact that article 34 of the Penal Procedure Law No. 3 of 2001 provides that detained individuals must be brought before a court within 24 hours. On 4 September, he was indicted for “unlawful possession of a weapon”. Although the court ordered his release on 7 64 65 12 Figures provided by ICHR. Ibid.

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