Ref: 93/2020

Date: 23 September 2020

Time: 18:00 GMT

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) strongly condemns the violent clashes that broke out yesterday in a family dispute in Khan Yunis, in which firearms were used. As a result, 3 civilians, including 2 children, were shot and injured with live bullets, as well as 5 police officers were hit with stones; one of them sustained critical wounds in his head, after they intervened to resolve the bloody dispute.

PCHR notes with concern the growing phenomenon of firearm use during family and personal disputes, and the blatant violation of the rule of law which threatens civil peace. PCHR calls upon the Public Prosecution to investigate the incident and bring those involved to justice. PCHR also calls upon authorities to take necessary measures in the face of the use of weapons in family disputes.

The dispute broke out at approximately 17:00 on Tuesday, 22 September 2020, between (Sh) and (B) families in central Khan Yunis and developed into stone-throwing and shooting. At approximately 22:00, the dispute between the two families renewed, in which firearms and homemade grenades were used. As a result, 3 civilians, including 2 children, from (B) family, were wounded and identified as:

1. (M. A. B), 20, sustained live bullet shrapnel in his back.
2. (K. M. B), 17, was shot and injured with a live bullet (enter and exit) in the upper left thigh.
3. (F. M. B), 11, was shot and injured with a live bullet in his left foot.

All of the wounded civilians were taken to Naser Hospital in the city. Several police forces arrived at the scene, and intermittently opened fire in the sky in order to control the fight and chased those who were present in al-Sikka area. Due to throwing stones, (5) policemen were injured and were identified as:

1. Lieutenant Hani Muhanna, who was targeted with a stone to his head, causing a skull fracture, and he was referred to the ICU in Naser Hospital;
2. Pioneer Selmi al-Bayouk, head of the maintenance and intervention forces, who was targeted with a stone under his eye, and he was taken to Naser Hospital;
3. Osama Azmi Khalil Abu Daqqa, was targeted with a stone to his left leg causing a fracture;
4. Hamed Riyad al-‘Aqqad, was targeted with a stone to his right leg, and left the hospital; and
5. Lieutenant Mohammed Fawzi Emran, was targeted with a stone to his left leg.

The police issued a statement and mentioned that they controlled a fight between two families in Khan Younis, and (5) policemen were injured. Furthermore, the shooters were arrested, and the firearms, used in the dispute, were confiscated.

PCHR expresses concern over the increasing number of civilian victims in incidents of mishandled weapons and calls upon security services to prosecute those responsible for these incidents and to take the necessary legal measures against them. Nevertheless, PCHR demands protection for citizenry and that all necessary measures for their safety be executed, including a deterrent to prevent the recurrence of such incidents, to safeguard civil peace and the rule of law.