Ref:
69/2009
Date:
31 May 2009
Time:
10:45 GMT
3 Security Officers, 2 Members of
the 'Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades and One Civilian Killed in Qalqilya
On Saturday evening, 30 May 2009, armed clashes occurred
between members of the 'Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing
of Hamas) and Palestinian security services. The incident took place in the
northern West Bank town of Qalqilya. The clashes continued until the early
morning of Sunday, 31 May 2009, and resulted in six deaths (two members of
the 'Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades, the owner of a house in which the two
members harbored and three security officers). A number of other persons
were also wounded.
The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights’ (PCHR)
investigations indicate that, at approximately 22:00 on Saturday, 30 May
2009, a large force of Palestinian security services besieged a house
belonging to 'Abdul Nasser al-Basha in the Kfar Saba neighborhood of
Qalqilya. The operation was intended to arrest Mohammed al-Samman, the
leader of the 'Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades in the northern West Bank,
and Mohammed Yassin, his aide. The two persons refused to surrender to the
security services, who had brought some of their relatives to convince them
to surrender. Yassin left the house appealing to people to lift the siege.
Immediately, security officers shot him dead. Soon after, security forces
were fired at from the house and a number of hand grenades were thrown at
them. As a result, three security officers were killed. At approximately
06:00 on Sunday, security forces stormed the house. As a result, al-Samman
and the owner of the house were killed, and the owner's wife and a number of
security officers were wounded.
Brigadier 'Adnan al-Dumairi, spokesman for the Palestinian
security services, stated to PCHR that at approximately 22:00 on Saturday,
30 May 2009, a unit of the Preventive Security Service came under attack
while conducting a routine activity in Kfar Saba neighborhood in Qalqilya.
The attackers harbored in a two-storey house belonging to 'Abdul Nasser al-Basha.
The security unit called for backups and the house was besieged. Security
forces demanded that the gunmen surrender. Al-Dumairi noted that, in order
to avoid bloodshed, security forces called a number of public figures and
relatives of the gunmen to convince them to surrender. However, the gunmen
refused to surrender and opened fire at security forces. At approximately
06:00 on Sunday, security forces stormed the house. The operation resulted
in six deaths (two gunmen, the owner of the house and three security
officers):
1)
Hussam Hassan Fares Abu al-Rokh,
43, a member of the National Security Forces, from Jenin refugee camp;
2)
Shaher Hnaini Shraim, 42, a
member of the Preventive Security Services;
3)
'Abdul Rahman Hussein Yassin,
33, a member of the Preventive Security Service;
4)
Mohammed 'Abdul Fattah al-Samman,
25, from the 'Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades;
5)
Mohammed Rasheed Yassin, 24,
from the 'Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades; and
6)
'Abdul Nasser al-Basha, 38, the
owner of the house.
PCHR regrets these incidents, and:
1)
Calls for an independent
investigation into the incident, the results of which should be made public.
2)
Calls upon all parties to cease
the acts of incitement which have accompanied this incident, in order to
avoid more bloodshed and to ensure the non-recurrence of the tragedies that
took place in the Gaza Strip two years ago.
3)
Confirms that the relevant
authorities have the right to arrest persons suspected of violating the law.
However, legal procedures relevant to detentions and house searches must be
followed.
4)
Emphasizes the need to have
strict procedures regulating the use of firearms by law enforcement
officials. This is essential in order to prevent the use of excessive force
and to ensure respect for international human rights standards intended
preserve the security and safety of civilians.
