Field Updates

Yesterday afternoon, 11 July 2017, a Palestinian civilian was killed after he was hit with a live bullet fired from an unknown source in Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip. This incident is part of the state of security chaos and proliferation of weapons and assault on the rule of law in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt).

According to the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR), at approximately 16:15 on Tuesday, 11 July 2017, the dead body of Mohammed Hasan Mohammed Abu Zaher (27), from al-‘Ajarmeh Street in Jabalia, arrived at the Indonesian Hospital in Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip, after being hit with a live bullet that penetrated his back and settled in the chest. Ayman al-Batniji, Spokesperson of the Ministry of Interior in the Gaza Strip, stated to PCHR’s fieldworker that Abu Zaher was admitted to the hospital for being hit with a stray bullet.

Akram Mohammed Abu Zaher, the victim’s nephew said to PCHR’s fieldworker via a phone call that his uncle Mohammed fell on the ground while he was on his way to his work in the camp market. People who were there were surprised when he fell and immediately took him to the Indonesian Hospital. The Hospital announced that Abu Zaher died of a heart attack. After that, he was transferred to the Forensic Department in Gaza to identify the death cause. Doctors’ examination revealed that there was a live bullet that penetrated Mohammed’s upper back and settled in the heart causing his death.

According to PCHR’s field investigation, Mohammed Abu Zaher was wounded when there was gunfire in the same area, during celebration of the liberation of former prisoner ‘Awad Mohammed Zeyadah (30) from the Israeli jails after the latter served 13 years in prison.

PCHR strongly condemns the killing of Abu Zaher due to the use of weapons in celebrations, which is part of the state of security chaos and proliferation of weapons and an assault on the rule of the law in the oPt. PCHR also calls upon the Attorney General to take the necessary measures to end such violations.