Ref: 58/2015
Date: 19 September 2015
Time: 11:17 GMT
The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) condemns the use of force by the Palestinian police and security services to disperse a peaceful demonstration organized in Bethlehem against the latest Israeli attacks against al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem. PCHR also condemns storming Ramsat Media office, in Nablus, and arresting and questioning 3 journalists and the brother of one of them in the Preventive Security Service (PSS) office in the city. PCHR condemns these attacks and stresses that the right to peaceful assembly is guaranteed under the Palestinian Basic Law and relevant international standards.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, following the Friday prayer, 18 September 2015, dozens of Palestinian civilians from all over Bethlehem gathered near al-‘Izzah refugee camp, north of the city, to organize a protest against the Israeli attacks against al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem. When the demonstration started moving towards Bilal Bin Rabah Mosque (Rachel Tomb), the Palestinian police and security services stationed at the entrance of the camp stopped the demonstration and forcibly dispersed the protestors. The Palestinian security services then fired tear gas canisters against protestors to prevent them from heading to the (Rachel’s Tomb). In response, a number of demonstrators tried to resist, but they were beaten and pushed. Additionally, other protestors threw stones and empty bottles towards the police officers, who in response fired gas canisters heavily. The police officers also used live bullets while chasing youngsters in the alleys of the camp. The security members then arrested 3 protestors and took them to the Presidential Compound (al-Moqata’ah) in Ramallah. One of the arrested persons was identified as Abdullah Younis Hammad. In the meantime, ‘Abed al-Hai Abu Sorour (26) from ‘Aida refugee camp sustained wounds and bruises to the head and leg and was taken to the Arab Society Hospital to receive medical treatment. Moreover, Helmi al-Qaisi (28) was beaten when he was in front of his shop in al-‘Izaah refugee camp. As a result, he was wounded to his back. Furthermore, a video posted on YouTube showed Palestinian police officers beating Mahmoud Redwan Hamamrah (17) from Beit Sahour village with batons. As a result, he sustained various wounds and bruises throughout his body. It should be mentioned that Mahmoud is the son of Radwan Hamamra, a lieutenant colonel in the Palestinian police.
The spokesman of the Palestinian Security Services, Brigadier ‘Adnan al-Damiry, stated that the Prime Minister and Interior Minister, Ramy al-Hamdallah, formed a committee to investigate the incident in order to take deterrent legal measures against anyone who practiced violence against civilians in violation of law.
In Nablus, dozens of Palestinian civilians organized a similar demonstration heading from the city’s mosques towards al-Shuhada intersection in the center of the city. In the meantime, a number of security officers in uniform and others in plain clothes, who identified themselves as members of the PSS raided Ramast Media office on the fifth floor in Kanaze’a building at the aforementioned intersection. It should be mentioned that Tareq Abed al-Razeq (39), correspondent of the Al-Aqsa Satellite Channel; Mojahed Mohammed al-Sa’di (26), correspondent of the Palestine Today Satellite Channel; and Mothana al-Deek (25), an editor in Ramasat Media office and his brother, ‘Abdel Elah (16), who was visiting him, were at that moment in the office. After that, a police officer told the aforementioned persons that they are under arrest and asked them for their ID cards. He also confiscated their cell phones and then took them to the street. They were put inside a security jeep belonging to the PSS, and were eventually taken them to the PSS office in Jabl al-Tour, south of the city, where they were questioned about their work as journalists, and if they covered the demonstration. After their personal information was verified and their cell phones were searched to ensure they did not photograph anything, the aforementioned detainees were released at approximately 17:30 on the same day.
In this context, CHR emphasizes that:
Accordingly, PCHR:
1- Calls upon the Attorney General to investigate these attacks and bring the perpetrators before justice;
2- Calls upon the competent authorities in the West Bank to take necessary measures to stop such violations of human rights and to respect public and press freedoms that are ensured under the Palestinian Basic Law and international human rights standards.
3- Calls upon security services to respect human rights that are ensured under the national laws and relevant international standards.
