Field Update

This morning, a gunman fired at a number of young men who were
riding a 3-wheel motorcycle on their way back homes. As a result, 3 young men were wounded, the
wounded of two of whom was described as serious. This attack is part of the state of security
chaos and proliferation of weapons in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
 

According to investigations conducted by the Palestinian Center for
Human Rights (PCHR, at approximately 01:00 on Thursday, 17 August 2011, a
masked gunman opened fire at a number of young men who were riding a 3-wheel
motorcycle in Omar Ben al-Khattab Street in Rafah. As a result, 3 young men were wounded:

1. Khaled
Mohammed al-Nims, 17, wounded by two bullets to the right foot;

2. Sameer
Sabri Abu Koush, 22, seriously wounded by a bullet to the left leg; and

3. Mohammed
al-‘Abed Jarbou’, 20, seriously wounded by a bullet to the left foor. 

The first victim stated to PCHR, that he and other young men were
traveling on a 3-wheel motorcycle, locally known as “Tuktok,” on their
way back homes after they had watched a football match between Barcelona and
Real Madrid. They were chanting. When they arrived near Rimas Hall, 3 masked
gunmen ordered them to stop, but the driver did not notice them and did not
stop. One of the gunmen fired at the
motorcycle. As a result, al-Nims and
another two young men were wounded. The
driver rode the motorcycle towards the refugee camp. A vehicle of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades
(the armed wing of Hamas) followed them and transported the wounded to the
hospital.

The police opened an investigation into the incident.  

PCHR condemns this incident, which is part of the state of security
chaos and proliferation of weapons, and calls upon concerned authorities to
seriously investigate it and bring the perpetrators before justice.