Ref: 65/2007

Date: 19 July 2007

Time: 12:00 GMT

2 Palestinian Civilians, Including a Child, Wounded by the Executive Force in Rafah

On Wednesday morning, 18 July 2007, 2 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded by the Executive Force in Rafah town in the southern Gaza Strip. PCHR calls for immediately investigating this incident, and expresses concerns that excessive and disproportionate force might have been used against civilians.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 11:00 on Wednesday, 18 July 2007, Bader Mohammed al-Hams, 15, was wounded by a gunshot to the right arm, and Jom’a Suleiman al-Qadhi, 47, was wounded by a gunshot to the left leg. The two civilians were wounded when members of the Executive Force and the Security and Protection Force of the Ministry of Interior in the dismissed Palestinian government opened fire in front of the post office in Rafah town in the southern Gaza Strip. The two forces fired into the air and at a crowd of people to disperse them as chaos spread over the area during the payment of financial assistance to workers.

In light of this incident:

1)      PCHR calls for seriously investigating this incident and declaring the conclusions of investigation.

2)      PCHR stresses that there must be clear and specific instructions for the use of firearms by security personnel, which conform to international human rights and ensure respect for human rights.