In the early hours of Tuesday, 22 July 2008, a member of the
‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas), was killed,
and two persons, including a child, also injured, when a bomb they
were handling exploded in the al-Shoja’eya neighborhood in the east
of Gaza City. This incident is part of the security chaos and misuse
of weapons continuing to plague the Occupied Palestinian Territory
(OPT).
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately
01:00 on Tuesday, 22 July, Khalil Ibrahim Jundiya (30), a member of
the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades, was killed, and 14 year old Hamza
Ahmed Jundiya injured, along with an unidentified adult, whilst the
three of them were handling the bomb.
The ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades later issued a statement mourning
the death of Khalil Ibrahim Jundiya, indicating that he was killed
as a result of ‘a mistake’ whilst handling a weapon.
PCHR remains gravely concerned about the increasing number of
casualties resulting from the continuing misuse of weapons in the
OPT. The Centre calls upon the authorities to take necessary steps
to ensure the non-recurrence of such incidents, and to provide
protection for all Palestinian civilians.
