A/HRC/43/21 5. A total of 131 Palestinians were killed (103 men, 5 women and 23 children) by Israeli security forces during the reporting period throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The vast majority of the killings and injuries happened outside the context of hostilities, in which circumstances the use of force is governed by international human rights law and standards regulating the conduct of law enforcement officials.5 During the reporting period, 11 Israelis were killed by Palestinians, including 1 girl. 6. Demonstrations known as the Great March of Return at the Israel-Gaza fence, which commenced in March 2018, continued to take place almost every Friday throughout the reporting period. Protests remained largely peaceful, although on many Fridays demonstrators damaged and breached the fence, threw Molotov cocktails, homemade sound grenades and explosive devices towards the Israeli security forces and launched incendiary objects. In particular, 508 burning kites and incendiary balloons were launched by demonstrators towards Israel, causing significant damage to agricultural land and forests. 6 The Israeli security forces responded with tear gas, rubber-coated bullets, water cannons, skunk water and sound devices, as well as live ammunition. Thirty-nine Palestinians, including 12 children and 1 woman, were killed by the Israeli security forces in that context, while some 2,078 Palestinians were injured with live ammunition, including 577 children. 7 Many of those injured sustained permanent disabilities: 55 people, including 4 children and 1 woman, had limbs and/or fingers amputated, 6 were paralyzed and 10 partially lost their vision. 8 Two Israeli soldiers were injured after an armed individual opened fire at them towards the end of the demonstration on 3 May 2019, east of Al-Boureij. 7. OHCHR monitored several cases related to the killing and injury of demonstrators at the fence. In the large majority of cases, it found no indication that the demonstrators in question would have presented an imminent threat to life or of serious injury. Under international human rights law, the use of potentially lethal force, such as firearms, for law enforcement purposes is an extreme measure that should be resorted to only when strictly necessary in order to protect life or prevent a serious injury from an imminent threat. 9 Two incidents are particularly illustrative. On 21 December 2018, a 40-year-old man suffering from a physical disability resulting from poliomyelitis was shot dead with live ammunition to his head while approximately 400–600m from the fence, east of Al-Boureij. Witnesses reported that he was shot while walking around the bus parking area. On 8 February 2019, a 13-year-old boy was shot dead with live ammunition to his chest while standing and holding hands with three of his friends approximately 300m from the fence, east of Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip. 8. Paramedics assisting injured demonstrators and journalists covering the protests were also subjected to live fire from the Israeli security forces. Thus, 110 paramedics and 62 journalists were injured by the security forces, tens of them with live ammunition and shrapnel.10 On 2 August 2019, a journalist was injured with live ammunition to his left leg as he was covering the demonstrations east of Al-Boureij. Witnesses reported that he was wearing a vest visibly marked “press” and taking photographs 200–300m from the fence when he was shot. On 27 September 2019, a 28-year-old female volunteer first responder, visibly identifiable through a white coat, was shot and injured by the Israeli security forces with live ammunition to her right hand and abdomen as she tried to assist injured demonstrators approximately 100m from the fence, east of Rafah. 9. Of particular concern is the number of children who continued to be exposed to unacceptable levels of violence at the fence. Children accounted for around 31 per cent of the fatalities and 28 per cent of those injured by live ammunition during the reporting period.11 Little effort appears to have been made by the organizers of the demonstrations and 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 A/HRC/40/43, para. 14. Figures provided by the Department of Safety and Security of the Secretariat. Figures provided by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat. Figures provided by the World Health Organization. Human Rights Committee, general comment No. 36 (2018) on the right to life, para. 12. Figures provided by Al Mezan Center for Human Rights. Figures provided by OHCHR and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat. 3