Field Update 

Yesterday evening, a civilian from al-Shati’ refugee camp, west of Gaza city, was shot dead by an unknown armed person. This incident is part of the state of proliferation of weapons and assault on the rule of law in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt).

According to investigations conducted by the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR), at approximately 16:30 on Wednesday, 09 November 2016, an unknown gunman opened fire at Mithqal Ahmed al-Salmi (36), from bloc “1” in al-Shati’ refugee camp, west of Gaza city, while the later was present in front of the house of his friend Mohamed Badir al-Adgham in bloc “4” in the same camp. As a result, Mithqal died on the spot. After that, his body was taken to al-Shifa’ Hospital in Gaza city to be examined by the Forensic Department. Sources in the Forensic Medicine stated that the victim was hit with 2 live bullets to the back of his head (entered and exited).

Mohamed al-Adgham said to PCHR’s fieldworker that he was sitting with Mithqal and another friend of them in a small yard located in front of his house on the south-western side. Few minutes later, sounds of shooting were heard and they were then surprised that Mithqal was hit with live bullets to the head. In the meantime, they attempted to stop the bleeding and asked for help. Mithqal was immediately taken to al-Shifa Hospital, where he was already dead. Another eyewitness added, his son, who was sitting in the street leading to the aforementioned house, confirmed that he saw a masked gunman wearing black clothes coming from a bystreet adjacent to the house from the northern side. The masked man then hid near a wall and opened fire at al-Salmi, who was sitting with his back to the street.”

Lieutenant Colonel Ayman al-Batniji, spokesperson of the police in Gaza city, said that the reason behind the crime has not been identified yet as the police immediately arrived at the crime scene, inspected it and opened an investigation.

PCHR condemns the killing of al-Salmi and calls upon the Attorney General to investigate the incident circumstances and publish the results in public. Furthermore, PCHR is deeply concerned over the increasing number of victims due to using firearms and calls also upon the competent authorities to take the necessary measures to stop this phenomenon and maintain the civilians’ security and safety.