A deeper dive.

Collective punishment is punishment imposed on a whole group of people in response to a crime committed by one member of that group. This is prohibited under international humanitarian law. 

Israel imposes collective punishment on Palestinians every single day in the form of checkpoints, home demolitions, curfews and military incursions.

Checkpoints and roadblocks are barriers set up by Israel to control and restrict Palestinian movement. In 2021 there were over 700 checkpoints and roadblocks across the illegally occupied West Bank. Checkpoints separate towns and make it difficult for people to see each other. They impact every aspect of Palestinian life, from seeing loved ones to visiting the shops and going to work. 

Israel also uses home demolitions to collectively punish Palestinians. Israel has a track record of demolishing the homes of Palestinian activists and stone-throwers, regardless of the number of people living there or their involvement. Indeed Israel uses any excuse to demolish Palestinian homes to make way for more illegal Israeli settlements. Over 131,000 Palestinian homes have been demolished by Israel since 1948. 

Curfews are also used by Israel to punish whole Palestinian villages or towns for the actions of one individual. Curfews prohibit Palestinian movement for long periods of the day and night. They restrict Palestinian access to work, education and medical services.

Rarely reported in the news, military incursions are when Israeli occupation forces enter Palestinian areas. This often leads to Palestinian injuries and deaths, as well as material destruction.

Join #TeamFOA today to hold Israel accountable.