Security Chaos and Proliferation of Weapons

Misuse Use of Weapons by Armed Groups and Security Forces

Field Update

13 August 2009

Child Killed in Salfit As He Mishandled His Father’s Pistol

On Wednesday morning, Jihad Rebhi Rabah Shaqqour, 17, from al-Zawia village west of Salfit, died of a wound he had sustained on the previous evening when a bullet was discharged from his father’s pistol as he mishandled it.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 16:15 on Tuesday, 11 August 2009, a gunshot was heard on the ground floor of Rabhi Rabah Shaqqour’s house in al-Zawia village, west of Salfit.  Shaqqour immediately stepped down from the upper floor towards the source of the sound.  He found his child, 17-year-old Jihad, bleeding from the head.  He evacuated him to Rafidya Hospital in Nablus.  Medical efforts to save the child’s life failed and he was pronounced dead at approximately 01:30 on Wednesday, 12 August 2009.

The Salfit Chief of Police stated to PCHR that initial investigations indicated that the child was playing with a pistol belonging to his father. The case was referred to the Attorney General’s office and the body was transferred to the forensic medicine department. 

PCHR is concerned over the increasing number of deaths and casualties resulting from the misuse of weapons and calls upon the relevant authorities to take all necessary measures to ensure the non-recurrence of such incidents.