Security Chaos and Proliferation of Small Arms

Misuse of Weapons by Armed Groups and Security Forces

Field Update

11 June 2006

2 Killed and 8 Injured, including 3 Children, in Incidents involving Misuse of Weapons in the Gaza Strip

Over the past three days, two Palestinians were killed and another eight injured, including three children, in incidents involving the misuse of weapons in the Gaza Strip

PCHR’s preliminary investigation indicates that at approximately 11:05 on Sunday, 11 June 2006, an explosion occurred in the house of Ammar Abed Rabbo Shehab (27) in El-Nuzha Street, in the town of Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip.  The explosion was caused by an explosive device and killed Shehab instantly.  Shehab’s burnt and shrapnel-torn body was taken to El-Awda Hospital in Jabalia.

At approximately 07:30 on Thursday, 8 June 2006, unknown gunmen kidnapped brothers Jihad and Emad Ahmad Abu N’qeira (age 22 and 23 respectively).  They were kidnapped from their private car near Mohammad Yousef El-Najjar Hospital in Rafah and were taken to an undisclosed location.  PCHR’s fieldworker learned that the kidnapping had been motivated by a financial dispute between the captives and a clan in the Ma’an area of Khan Yunis.  After their release and at approximately 21:00 in the evening of the same day, Jihad Ahmad Abu N’qeira was injured by a bullet to the left leg, while he was standing in front of his house in the El-J’neina area of Rafah.  The bullet had been fired accidentally from a gun he was holding at the time.  Jihad was taken to Mohammad Yousef El-Najjar Hospital for treatment, where his injury was described as moderate.

At approximately 04:30 on Friday, 9 June 2006, Abdel Rahman Jaber Hasan El-Naqla (46) was admitted to Naser Hospital in Khan Yunis, along with Mo’een Ramadan Hejazi (32).  El-Naqla had been injured by a bullet to the head and died shortly after arrival at the hospital.  Hejaza had been injured by two bullets to the legs and his condition is now moderate.  Both men are residents of the northern Gaza Strip.  Unknown gunmen had fired at them, while they were in the “registration” area of Khan Yunis.

At approximately 13:45 on Friday, Mohammad Abdel Rahim Barakat, a 23-year-old resident of Rafah, was injured by a bullet to the right shoulder.  The injury had resulted from bullets fired into the air during the funeral of Jamal Atayah Abu Samhadana in Rafah.  Barakat was taken to Mohammad Yousef El-Najjar Hospital, where his condition was described as moderate.

At approximately 02:50 on Saturday, 10 June 2006, the body of Arafat Hussein Mansour, a 22-year-old resident of the town of Kufr Qalil, southeast of Nablus, was brought to Rafedia Hospital in Nablus.  Mansour had been killed by a bullet to the head that had been fired accidentally when he mishandled his gun.  He was killed instantly.

At approximately 10:00 on Saturday, Emad Hasan Abu El-Enein, a 20-year-old resident of Shaboura refugee camp and a member of the Popular Resistance Committees, was admitted Mohammad Yousef El-Najjar Hospital in Rafah.  His left hand was cut and he was suffering from shrapnel injuries to the abdomen.  The injuries had been caused by the detonation of an explosive device in his house.  Medical sources indicated that his condition is moderate.

And at approximately 08:30 on Saturday, a homemade rocket landed in a house belonging to Ali Asaleyya, in the Tal Sho’shasha area of Tal El-Za’tar in Jabalia.  Four members of the household were injured, including three children.  Extensive damage was caused to the house.  The injured are:

–         Laila Ali Asaleyya (23);

–         Hana Ali Asaleyya (14);

–         Eman Ali Asaleyya (3); and

–         Mohammad As’ad Asaleyya (7)

Medical sources in Kamal Odwan Hospital in Beit Lahya indicated that the injured had sustained shrapnel wounds to different parts of their bodies but that their condition was good.

PCHR is gravely concerned over the continued number of deaths and injuries resulting from the misuse of weapons, which has become a prominent feature of the ongoing security chaos in the region.  The Centre calls upon the Palestinian National Authority to take preventive measures to prevent such incidents and safeguard the safety of citizens.