The National Lawyers Guild is among fifteen human rights, civil rights and faith organizations that sent a letter to President Barack Obama, demanding that Israel publicly release all evidence related to the investigation into the shooting and killing of U.S. citizen Mahmoud Shaalan by Israeli occupation soldiers.
Shaalan, a 16-year-old Palestinian-American born and raised in Florida, was shot multiple times by Israeli occupation soldiers at a checkpoint near the Beit El settlement in occupied Palestine. Shaalan’s body was then stripped; he was left bleeding on the road for hours and a Palestinian ambulance was prevented from approaching by occupation soldiers.
An Israeli investigation allegedly found no criminal wrongdoing and officials stated that no further pursuit of the case will occur; the Israeli state has released no details or evidence collected from the investigation.
“Israel has enjoyed utter impunity for killing United States citizens Rachel Corrie, Furkan Dogan, and now Mahmoud Shaalan, as well as gravely injuring many more,” said Maria LaHood, Deputy Legal Director at the Center for Constitutional Rights. “It is long past time for the United States government to stand up to Israel and demand transparency and accountability for killing our citizens, and to conduct its own thorough investigation.”
The organizations signed on to the letter are American Friends Service Committee(AFSC), American Muslims for Palestine, Amnesty International USA, Arab-American Institute (AAI), Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR), Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Defense for Children International – Palestine, Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL), Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ, Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), National Lawyers Guild (NLG), Presbyterian Church (USA), United Methodist Church, General Board of Church and Society, United Methodist Kairos Response, and the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation.
Download the letter here: Human rights Organizations letter on Mahmoud Shaalan
