Field Update

Yesterday afternoon, a civilian was killed and his daughter was wounded after an unknown person opened fire at them in Balatah refugee camp in Nablus.  This incident is aprt of the state of profielration of weapons and assault on the rule of law in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt).

According to investigations conducted by the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR), at approximately 22:20 on Monday, 29 January 2018, Mahmoud ‘Ali Mohammed Khalil (27) along with his daughter, Hala (6), was driving his car to visit his family in Balatah refugee camp, where he lives, when a masked gunman directly opened fire at them at point blank range.  The father was shot to the heart and immediately died while his daughter was wounded to the leg.  The Palestinians security forces rushed to the camp, imposed a security cordon on the area and opened an investigation into the incident.  Mahmoud and his wounded daughter were then transferred to Rafidia Governmental Hospital in Nablus.

It should be noted that Mahmoud was a Palestinian National Security officer but resigned to work for a private security company in Nablus.

PCHR condemns this crime that resulted in the killing of Mahmoud Khalil and is concerned over the increasing number of victims due to the use of firearms.  PCHR also calls upon the competent authorities to take the necessary measures to end the phenomenon of proliferation of weapons and maintain the security and safety of civilians.