A/HRC/40/39 forces struck a mosque in Dayr al-Balah, and hit a nearby house, killing a pregnant woman and her 18-month-old daughter. 16. On 28 October 2018, three children, aged 13, 14 and 15 years, were killed by a missile fired from a drone near the fence south-east of Dayr al-Balah. According to information received, Israeli security forces prevented paramedics from approaching the site for approximately two hours. The Israel Defense Forces stated that the soldiers were not aware the victims were children and said they “were observed sabotaging the fence and digging in the ground next to it”. 22 According to information received by OHCHR, no ammunition or weapons were found near the bodies. 17. According to Israeli security forces, some of the Palestinians killed close to the Gaza-Israel fence were attempting to plant improvised explosive devices aimed at harming Israeli security forces, while others were attempting to breach the fence to enter Israel. On 17 February 2018, four Israeli soldiers were reportedly injured when an improvised explosive device exploded close to the fence. 23 3. Recurring human rights violations Violations of the right to life and security of person 18. There were serious concerns of excessive use of force and possible unlawful killings by Israeli security forces during the reporting period, with 274 Palestinian fatalities, 24 including 2 women, 48 boys and 2 girls, with a vast majority in Gaza. This marks a significant increase from the previous reporting period, during which Israeli security forces killed 55 Palestinians, including 14 children. Among the victims, 192, including 37 children, were killed in the context of demonstrations, 4 in search and arrest operations carried out by Israeli security forces and 12 in the context of attacks and alleged attacks against Israelis; 3 Palestinians died in Israeli custody. 19. Following the announcement by the President of the United States on Jerusalem, demonstrations broke out across the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which in many instances developed into clashes between demonstrators and Israeli security forces. Between 6 December 2017 and 28 February 2018, 28 Palestinians – 22 men and 6 boys – were killed by Israeli security forces in such contexts, 25 many in circumstances that did not seem to pose an imminent threat of death or serious injury that would have justified the use of lethal force. While the response of Israeli security forces initially seemed restrained in the West Bank, the forces increasingly used live ammunition against demonstrators starting in January 2018, with 175 injuries from such ammunition recorded since then. In Gaza, the use of live ammunition against demonstrators was observed from 6 December 2017, resulting in over 400 injuries by the end of February 2018. 20. Furthermore, on several occasions, Israeli security forces used force in law enforcement in a manner that led to unnecessary injury and death, including by targeting the head or upper part of the body with live ammunition or rubber bullets. In at least 10 incidents that occurred between December 2017 and February 2018 in the West Bank, 10 victims, including 6 children, were hit in the head with live ammunition or rubber coated metal bullets. Four of the victims, including three children, were consequently killed. In Gaza, during the same period, eight Palestinians, including a 15-year-old boy, were killed when shot with live ammunition in the head or upper part of the body. 22 23 24 25 Judah Ari Gross and agencies, “Army says it didn’t know Palestinians targeted on border were minors”, Times of Israel, 31 October 2018. Available at www.timesofisrael.com/army-says-it-didntknow-palestinians-targeted-on-border-were-minors/. Matan Tzuri and others, “4 soldiers wounded near Gaza border as explosive device is set off”, Ynetnews.com, 17 February 2018. Available at www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L5118147,00.html. Including one Palestinian killed by a private security guard. A total of 16 Palestinians, including 3 children, were killed in Gaza, and 12 Palestinians, including 3 children, were killed in the West Bank. Another Palestinian was killed in the West Bank by a private security guard. 5