Ref: 118/2011

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) strongly condemns the death of Khalil Mohammed Musallam al-Tawil who was stabbed in the neck and the arm today in a dispute between students in the campus of al-Azhar University in Gaza City. PCHR calls upon the government in Gaza to open investigations into the incident as well as the prior entry of an armed group into the campus of the University. PCHR further calls upon the government in Gaza to bring the perpetrators to justice.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, on Sunday, 27 November 2011, a dispute erupted between students from the Abdul Hadi family and the al-Quraan family inside the campus of al-Azhar University in Gaza City at approximately 11:15 in the morning. The two groups had entered the campus of the University carrying knives. As a result, Khalil Mohammed Musallam al-Tawil, 19, a student in the Faculty of Commerce in al-Azhar University from Juhr Addik village, was killed while trying to peacefully intervene in the dispute.

PCHR was informed that the Palestinian police arrived at the scene and have subsequently opened investigations into the incident. The police have arrested two men from Abdul Hadi family and the al-Quraan family for investigations.

PCHR strongly condemns this incident, which is a part of the state of security chaos and misuse of weapons plaguing the Occupied Palestinian Territories. PCHR:

1. Calls upon the government in Gaza to open serious investigations into the incident and to bring any guilty parties to justice.

2. Expresses its shock caused by the death of a student in the campus of his university and reiterates that universities must play an important role in developing, promoting and disseminating the culture of tolerance and the language of dialogue in the society.