EU ‘deeply alarmed’ by Israeli use of live fire to disperse Palestinian protests

The European Union criticizes Israel’s use of lethal force to disperse Palestinian protesters, and urges security forces to show restraint as well as investigate every fatality.

In a statement, the Office of the European Union Representative to the West Bank and Gaza Strip says several Palestinian minors have been killed in recent months, but did not specify details of the incidents.

“The EU continues to be deeply alarmed about the use of live ammunition by Israeli Security Forces as a means of crowd control,” the statement says. “The EU reiterates its calls on Israeli authorities to employ proportionate force in their response to demonstrations, to exercise the utmost restraint in its use of force for law enforcement, to open adequate investigations following each fatality and to initiate prosecution where appropriate.”