only use lethal force in a proportional way, and only when it is strictly and directly necessary to save life.75 With regards to self-defense, this justification only applies when the action is a direct response to an attack, as a form of defense, and only to ward off an attack actually occurring in that moment.76 The justification of self-defense cannot be used for actions aimed at stopping a future danger, as force for self-defense cannot be used before an attack has happened and neither as revenge after the attack.77 The purposeful assassination of Palestinian leaders via targeted killings is an illegal act by itself, but the policy has further ramifications. This policy forces Palestinian leaders, even mid-level ones, to hide and to be constantly on the run, which significantly affects their capacity to plan and organize resistance. It also scares others from taking over. This weakening of the resistance through illegal methods facilitates the implementation of other policies of forcible displacement against Palestinians and the control and subjugation of the Palestinian people to Israel. This policy also completely disregards due process and access to a fair trial, as Israel favored targeted killings over arrests.78 Moreover, the targeted killings often included the killing of several civilians. Israel attacked Palestinian leaders and activists in their home or in public spaces, which brought with it the risk of having civilians killed. The extrajudicial killing of at least 153 Palestinians by Israel between 2002 and 2008 was the result of collateral damage that occurred while carrying out targeted killings. Suppression of Protests and Demonstrations Legal Framework In response to the ongoing Israeli policies of colonization, apartheid, and forcible displacement, for decades Palestinians have resisted against the denial of their fundamental rights by Israel through protests and demonstrations. While not the only form of resistance, protests are common throughout the oPt, and to some extent also inside Israel. In the oPt, the moment a demonstration gets close to an Israeli military base, Israeli soldiers, or a colony, it is suppressed and dispersed immediately by Israeli forces. Both lethal and non-lethal weapons are used to disperse the crowd of 75 Ibid. page 11 76 B’Tselem, Activity of the Undercover Units in the Occupied Territories, May 1992. Available at: http:// www.btselem.org/publications/summaries/199205_undercover_units 77 Ibid. 78 Ibid. 26