Security Chaos and Proliferation of Small Arms

Misuse of Weapons by Armed Groups and Security Forces

Field Update

26 June 2006

Child Killed and Three Injured in Incidents involving Misuse of Weapons

A 13-year-old child was killed and three others, including a child, were injured in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, in a number of incidents in which weapons were misused or mishandled.

PCHR’s preliminary investigation indicates that at approximately 03:00 on Sunday, 25 June 2006, Anas Mohammad Khayri Abdel-Jabbar Yassin (13-year-old resident of Asira El-Shamaleyya, northwest of Nablus) was killed by a bullet to the chest.  He was hit by a bullet fired into the air by a gunman at a wedding in the village of Barqa.

At around the same time, Haytham Samir El-Agha, a 17-year-old resident of El-Qarrara town north of Khan Yunis, was admitted to Naser Hospital in Khan Yunis.  He was suffering from shrapnel injuries to both hands, caused by the detonation of a homemade bomb he had mishandled in a field near his home.  His condition was described as moderate.

At approximately 11:50 on Thursday, 22 June 2006, Mazen Saber Haboub, a 33-year-old resident of Jabalia refugee camp, was injured by a bullet from an unknown source, while walking near Sheikh Zayed housing project to the east of Beit Lahya.  He was taken to Kamal Odwan Hospital for treatment, where his condition was described as moderate.

And at approximately 22:00 on the same day, Ahmad Haidar Saqer, a 23-year-old resident of Khan Yunis, was injured by a bullet to the left leg.  The bullet was fired during a wedding celebration for one of his relatives.  Saqer was taken to Naser Hospital for treatment.

PCHR is gravely concerned over the continued number of deaths and injuries resulting from the misuse of weapons, which has become a prominent feature of the ongoing security chaos in the region.  The Centre calls upon the Palestinian National Authority to take preventive measures to prevent such incidents and safeguard the safety of citizens.