17 May 2020

On Saturday evening, 16 May 2020, 4 Palestinian civilians were wounded with live bullets, shrapnel and home-made bombs, one in a critical condition, in a family dispute in al-Buraij refugee camp in central Gaza Strip, in which firearms were used. This incident is part of the state of security chaos and proliferation of weapons prevailing in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt).

According to investigations conducted by the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR), at approximately 15:00 on Saturday, 16 May 2020, a family dispute occurred between Sa’doun and Khalaf families, east of al-Buraij refugee camp. At approximately 22:00 on the same day, the fight recurred in which firearms and home-made bombs were used. As a result, 4 citizens sustained live bullets and bomb shrapnel. They were taken to al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah for medical treatment, and one of them was in critical condition after being shot with a live bullet in his neck. He was transferred to al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City.

The wounded were identified as:

1. Na’el Ra’ed Ibrahim al-Nabahin (21), was shot with a live bullet in his neck;
2. Mahmoud Abdul Wahab Mahmoud Khalaf (26) sustained shrapnel in his face and shoulder;
3. Ahmed Diyab Yusuf Khalaf (39) was shot with a shrapnel in his thigh and abdomen; and
4. Ahmed Jom’ah Ahmed Khalaf (25) was shot with a live bullet in his right thigh.

A Palestinian police force arrived at the scene, controlled the fight, confiscated the used firearm and arrested the shooters. Ayman al-Batniji, Spokesperson of the police, stated to media that the shooters were arrested and the firearm used in the dispute was confiscated. He added that urgent investigation was opened into the incident and its circumstances.

PCHR condemns this incident which is a blatant violation of the rule of law in the oPt and calls upon the Public Prosecution to investigate the incident and bring those involved to justice.