Israel: High Court of Justice hears cases on targeted killings

On 11 December, the High Court of Justice held hearings on a petition filed in 2002 against the Israeli Defence Forces’ policy of targeted assassinations. The Court also heard another petition filed against high-level government officials, including the Prime Minister, demanding a criminal investigation of the assassination of senior Hamas chief Salah Shehadeh, during which 14 Palestinians were killed, in July 2002. The Court announced it will rule soon on both petitions.