How does the security apparatus become a service to the occupation?
Afrasianet - The killing of two children by members of the Palestinian security services in the town of Tammoun in the northeastern occupied West Bank on Sunday, while pursuing their father, Samer Samara, who is wanted by the Israeli occupation, sparked a wave of anger on social media among Palestinians.
The 16-year-old boy Yazan Samara was killed instantly, according to medical sources, and his sister (3) later died of her injuries, after Palestinian security personnel fired at the car they were travelling in with their father, Samer Samara.
According to local media, a Palestinian security force ambushed Samara, who sources in his town said was wanted by the Israeli occupation, before chasing his car and shooting at it.
Official responses and the victims' families
For his part, Maj. Gen. Anwar Rajab, spokesman for the Palestinian security forces, said in a statement that the security establishment "is following with great interest what happened during the implementation of an important security force in Tubas governorate to arrest one of the most wanted persons for the law based on a judicial warrant."
"The security establishment deeply regrets the loss of lives during the mission, and confirms that the circumstances of the incident are still being closely monitored," he said.
The spokesman said an immediate and thorough investigation had been opened to find out all the details and identify those responsible.
In response to the incident, Samara's family issued a statement saying that what happened was a "heinous crime" committed by the Preventive Security Agency by targeting a civilian vehicle carrying children and women, which led to the death of Samer Samara's two children.
It added that the shooting of a civilian vehicle "with such barbarity" represents a very serious incident that requires accountability for all those involved in it, stressing its rejection of "disregard for Palestinian blood."
The family called for the immediate release of Samer Samara, and for the accountability of all those involved in the incident, the perpetrators and those who issued the orders, and called for legal action through the Bar Association and human rights institutions to prosecute those responsible before the judiciary, and urged the people of Tammoun and Tubas governorate to stand together to demand justice.
Widespread anger
Following the incident, anger escalated on social media platforms, as tweeters confirmed that the security forces fired directly at the car without any prior warning, or providing an opportunity to get the children out of it, which led to the death of the two children and the arrest of their father.
Others argued that the way the operation was carried out reflected a disregard for civilian lives, calling for the full circumstances of what happened to be revealed and those responsible to be held accountable.
Others likened the incident to the story of Hind Rajab, a child who was martyred by the Israeli occupation army's bullets in Gaza, and said that what happened in Tammun "is a crime that should not go unpunished."
Activists pointed out that the comparison reflects the extent of the shock in the Palestinian street, as they saw that the shooting of children by parties that are supposed to be responsible for their protection doubles the sense of pain and anger, and raises harsh questions about the mechanisms of carrying out security operations and guarantees for the protection of civilians, especially children, during prosecutions and arrests.
A number of activists also said in their comments that the incident represents a "massacre that took place under the cover of darkness", calling for a transparent investigation and accountability for those responsible, and raising questions about the motives and timing of the operation.
In a related context, bloggers criticized the Palestinian Authority apparatus in the West Bank, accusing it of pursuing wanted persons for the Israeli occupation, asking who serves such operations as the war on Gaza continues.
Others wrote that since the beginning of the war on Gaza, the PA apparatus in Ramallah has been intensifying its pursuit of anyone who bears arms and resists the occupation, accusing it of launching incitement and smear campaigns on social media platforms to justify the prosecution and arrests, pointing out that what happened in Tammoun comes in this context.
