Field Update

On Saturday, 22
June 2014, a civilian and his son were seriously injured due to the use of firearms
in a family dispute occurred between two families in Jabalia in the northern
Gaza Strip. This incident is part of the state of security chaos and
proliferation of weapons prevailing in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt).

According to
investigations conducted by the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR), at
approximately 15:30 on Saturday, 21 June 2014, a family dispute erupted between
two neighboring families in al-Khulafaa’ area in Jabalia in the northern Gaza
Strip. The dispute developed into using firearms and sharp tools.  As a result, ‘Adel Hussein Muhammad al-Shrafi
(46) sustained bullet shrapnel wound to his neck, and his son, Hussam Adel
Hussein al-Shrafi (14), was hit by several bullets to his chest.  The aforementioned persons were taken to Shifa
Hospital to receive medical treatment.  The injury of the child was described as
serious. In the same incident, 3 other civilians were injured due to the use of
sharp tools and stones and were transferred to Kamal Edwan Hospital in Beit
Lahia for medical treatment.

The Palestinian
police arrived at the scene, initiated an investigation into the incident and
arrested a number of suspects, who were involved in the dispute.

PCHR strongly
condemns the continued use of firearms in family and personal disputes,  which are part of the state of security chaos
and proliferation of weapons in the oPt, and calls upon the Attorney General to
seriously investigate this incident and bring the perpetrators before justice.