Security Chaos and Proliferation of Weapons

Use of Weapons in Personal and Family Disputes

Field Update

23 August 2006

A Person Killed and 6 Others Wounded in Family Disputes in the Gaza Strip

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 17:00 on Tuesday, 22 August 2006, a dispute erupted between the families of Madhi and Abu Nusaira in Deir al-Balah town in the central Gaza Strip concerning the ownership of a tract of land. The dispute developed and firearms were used. As a result, ‘Abdul Hakim Mohammed Abu Madhi, 35, was killed by a live bullet to the head. Two other persons were also wounded:

1.    Jihad Mohammed Abu Madhi, 30, wounded to the head; and

2.    ‘Emad Jouda al-‘Adini, 30, a neighbor who attempted to stop clashes between the two families, wounded by a live bullet to the head.

At approximately 23:00 on Monday, 21 August 2006, Nader Manar Sa’id Wadi, 26, from Khan Yunis refugee camp, was evacuated to Nasser Hospital. He was wounded by shrapnel from a live bullet to the neck, when a gunman fired at him in a family dispute, in which firearms were used.

At approximately 19:30 on Sunday, 20 August 2006, a quarrel among brothers from the al-‘Assar family in Nusiarat refugee camp escalated, and firearms were used. As a result, Fadi Sabri al-‘Assar, 26, was wounded by a live bullet to the right foot; and ‘Abdul Hamid Jamal al-Bayoumi, 25, a neighbor, was wounded by a live bullet to the abdomen.  

PCHR is deeply concerned over the continuation of internal violence, including the use of weapons in personal and family disputes, which is further aggravating the state of security chaos in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.  PCHR calls upon the Palestinian National Authority, represented by the Attorney-General, to investigate such crimes and bring the perpetrators to justice.