Ref: 43/2015
Date: 9 July 2015
Time: 12:30 GMT
The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) expresses its deep concern over the killing of a civilian, Mohammed Abdeen, and wounding two others in Khan Yunis by the Palestinian police. Clashes erupted between the Palestinian police and civilians who were angry due to the death of a relative during a family dispute. PCHR calls upon the Attorney General to investigate the reasons that prompted the police to open fire, verify whether that the police took all the necessary measures before shooting at the civilian, and publish the results.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 2:00 on Wednesday, 8 July 2015, following the funeral of Fayeq Mohammed Ali Bayouk (21), who was killed, on Monday by a sharp tool by a mentally disturbed person in Khan Yunis, dozens of mourners went to two house belonging to the suspect’s family. A number of them threw stones at the house and attempted to attack them. Clashes erupted with members of the riot control police who were deployed in the area to prevent the civilians from attacking the two houses. Events quickly developed into skirmishes and clashes between the two sides, in which stones, empty bottles and firearm were used. The police opened fire. As a result, Mohammed Khamis Abdeen Khafez (36) was killed by a bullet that penetrated his left eye and exited from head, when he was inside a shop in the area although the doors of the shop were closed because of the violent clashes outside. A bullet penetrated the closed steel door and hit him. Moreover, two civilians from the al-Bayouk family were injured during their presence in the area. They were identified as: Mohammed Hassan Mohammed Bayouk (25), injured by a bullet in the back; and Omar Hassouna Moussa Bayouk (28), injured by a bullet in the leg. Nine police officers were also injured by stones.
After the declaration of the Abdeen’s death, dozens of civilians gathered and clashed with the police. Afterwards, the police forces and members of the Izziddin al-Qasam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas) were deployed in the area before the situation was calmed down
The victim’s brother, Nabil Khamis Abden, stated to a PHCR field worker that police forces and members of the Izziddin al-Qasam Brigades raided his brother’s house while a number of his family members were in the vicinity of the house, and attacked them, including his wife, who sustained a fracture in her left arm, and his sister who sustained a cut in the head.
The office of the police chief in Khan Yunis stated to the PCHR field worker that around 200 persons raided the house of the family of the suspected murderer right after the funeral of Fayeq Bayouk and attacked police forces that were deployed in the place to prevent riots. He added that the police were attacked with stones and empty bottles, and they progressively used force up to shooting in the air to disperse them civilians and prevent them from launching any attacks. Right after that, a person, Mohammed Khamis Hafez Abden, was found dead after sustaining a gunshot to the head, while being in a shop nearby. Two members of the al-Bayouk family sustained bullet injuries and 9 policemen were injured after being thrown by stones. According to the office of the police chief, an investigation was opened into Abdeen’s death.
PCHR expresses its deep concern for the Abdeen’s death, and:
