Ref: 10/2007
Date: 25 February 2007
Time: 13:00 GMT
4 Palestinian Killed in Khan Yunis
PCHR strongly condemns the bloody incidents that occurred in Khan Yunis in the past two days, which killed 4 Palestinians, including a woman, and wounded 23 others. PCHR calls upon the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), represented by the Attorney-General to investigate these incidents and bring those involved in them to justice.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 22:35 on Friday, 23 February 2007, a number of gunmen intercepted a car, in which Mohammed ‘Ali Mahmoud al-Ghalban, 28, a member of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas, was traveling together with his wife and two children, in Jourat al-Lout area in the southeast of Khan Yunis. The gunmen forced al-Ghalban out of the car, and after they had verified his identity, they shot him dead.
Later, the Izziddin al-Qassam brigades issued a statement accusing suspects, who take the Kaware’ clan as a cover, of executing al-Ghalban and vowed of revenge.
At approximately 00:30 on Saturday, 24 February 2007, dozens of masked gunmen and members of the al-Ghalban family besieged the area, in which the Kware’ clan live. Some of them took positions atop of high buildings in the area. Fierce clashes between them and members of the Kaware’ clan erupted, in which home-made projectiles and bombs were used. Soon, the gunmen moved forwards and stormed and searched houses belonging to the Kaware’ clan. A number of members of the clan were able to leave the area. During the house raids, the gunmen detonated explosives devices in 4 houses belonging to the Kaware’ clan, and prohibited traffic in the area. A number of people also attacked ambulances that were able to reach the area later to evacuate the wounded.
As a result of these clashes, which continued until 09:30, 3 persons, including a woman and an old man, were killed:
1. Hazem Fawzi Kaware’, 30, hit by a gunshot to the chest;
2. Isma’il ‘Abed Subeh, 73, hit by a gunshot to the neck, when he was inside his house; and
3. Ghada Hussein Mustafa Kaware’, 27, hit by a gunshot to the head.
Additionally, 23 persons, including 3 children, were wounded. Three of the wounded are still in a serious condition.
PCHR strongly condemns these bloody incidents, and:
1. Calls upon the Attorney-General to investigate them and bring those who were involved in them to justice.
2. Calls upon all national factions to take effective steps to stop such incidents and blood shed and to prevent any possibility of coming back to internal fighting.
3. Calls upon the PNA, including the President and the Palestinian Legislative Council, following the Mecca Agreement, to intervene to prevent further deterioration to the internal situation.
