Security Chaos and Proliferation of Small Arms

Misuse of Weapons by Armed Groups and Security Personnel

Field Update

4 April 2006

1 Citizen Dead and 2 Injured in Incidents Involving the Mishandling of Weapons

Hisham Ahmad Mohammad Jaber, a 30-year-old resident of the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood of Gaza City, shot himself, after injuring his brother (Mohammad, 24), when he mishandled a firearm.

According to the family’s testimony to the police, given in Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, the incident took place at approximately 16:00 on Sunday, 2 April 2006.  At the time, Hisham Jaber, a taxi driver, was handling a weapon at his house in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood.  A bullet was accidentally fired, hitting his brother Mohammad in the leg.  According to the testimony, Hisham then shot himself in the head and died instantly.  Medical sources at Shifa Hospital stated that Hisham was killed by a bullet to the head, while Mohammad’s injury was classified as moderate.

In another incident, Hani Jaber Khalil, a 27-year-old resident of Jabalia refugee camp, was injured when he mishandled a weapon.  PCHR’s initial investigation indicates that at approximately 20:20 on Sunday, 2 April 2006, Hani Khalil was injured by a bullet to the right leg, which was fired when he mishandled a rifle in his house.  He was taken to Kamal Odwan Hospital in Beit Lahya, where his injury was classified as moderate.

PCHR is very concerned over the continued number of deaths and injuries resulting from the misuse of weapons, which is has become a prominent feature of the ongoing security chaos in the region.  The Centre stresses the importance of protecting civilians and ensuring their safety in accordance with international humanitarian law.