Israel’s Supreme Court has rejected two petitions from human rights groups demanding Israel cease using snipers and live ammunition against Palestinian protesters in the Gaza Strip. A panel of three justices unanimously rejected the petitions, siding with the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) which said that the protesters constitute a legitimate danger to Israeli soldiers and citizens, pointing to several Hamas figures which have been taken out by snipers – 50 according to Hamas leader Salah Bardawil.