Ref: 11/ 2022
Date: 08 February 2022
Time: 12:25 GMT
The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights condemns in the strongest terms the unfortunate incidents and the deteriorating security conditions in Hebron, including violent armed clashes that resulted in live-bullet injuries and terrorizing citizens. The incidents included burning houses and shops and assaulting public freedoms and properties. PCHR calls upon the Palestinian government to take necessary measures and protect the rule of law.
PCHR calls on the Public Prosecution to open a serious investigation into the circumstances of these incidents and bring those involved to justice. Also, PCHR calls upon law enforcement services to take the necessary measures to end to the state of proliferation of weapons, control families’ possession of firearms, and impose the rule of law, fearing the slippery slope of security chaos and its threat to civil and social peace.
Starting on Thursday, 03 February, Hebron city, southern West Bank, has witnessed armed clashes between several families, where dozens of gunmen used machine guns. As a result, two persons were injured, including a child. These shootings reached houses in densely populated areas, terrorizing the public; there were also several incidents where vehicles and shops were set on fire, paralyzing the city over the past week.
On Thursday, 03 February 2022, violent armed clashes erupted between members of al-Rajbi family in central Hebron, due to internal disputes. No casualties were reported, but there was a state of terror among the community due to the heavy use of firearms in the fight. Simultaneously, other armed clashes broke between al-Ja’bari and al-‘Owi’y (Abu ‘Eisha) families on Sunday, 06 February, on grounds of an old revenge where two people (one from each family) were killed. The clash renewed on Sunday after gunmen indiscriminately opened fire at several residential houses in Abu Isninah and al-Ja’bari neighborhoods, which resulted in the injury of a man and a child, both were inside their homes. In the aftermath, violent clashes erupted, during which, shops belonging to al-‘Owi’y and al-Ja’bari families were shot at.
Afterwards, Palestinian security services deployed in the city and established checkpoints at several entrances; meanwhile, Palestinian police announced that a few people were in its custody, and that they seized firearms.
The clashes reignited on Monday, 7 February, as armed persons attacked the Bab al-Zaweya police station, central Hebron, with firearms and shot arbitrarily at present security forces. The latter opened fire back at them; no casualties were reported.
The clashes continued amidst heavy armed presence from both families, that included shootings at houses, shops, and setting several businesses on fire.
PCHR expresses its concern over the growing phenomenon of social violence, including use of firearms in family and personal fights as of late, in assault on the rule of law threatening civil and social peace. PCHR demands concerned services to prosecute those responsible for these incidents and to provide protection to the public and the necessary precautions for public safety. PCHR also demands concerned authorities to take the necessary measures to deter such incidents so that the rule of law and civil peace would prevail.
