Security Chaos

Attacks on Non-governmental Organizations

Field Update

11 April 2007

“El-Ata Charitable Society” Burned in Beit Hanoun

PCHR’s preliminary investigation indicates that at approximately 1:00 on Wednesday, 11 April 2007, unknown assailants broke into the “El-Ata Charitable Society”, located in Zaitoon Quarter near the Beit Hanoun Municipality Building. They burned the Society building by setting fire to car tires. Civil Defense crews rushed to the scene and managed to control the fire after 4 hours. As a result, extensive damage was caused to the Society.

Ibtisam El-Za’anin, the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Society, stated that her association offers social and cultural services to the residents of Beit Hanoun. The fire completely burned an educational computer laboratory containing 13 computers. The lab was set to be opened on today. In addition, the fire completely burned the “Dina El-Qattan Cultural Library” inside the Society, containing approximately 5,000 books. Damages were inflicted on other parts of the building.

It is noted that Youth House for Culture and Arts in Jabalia suffered a similar attack on 20 February 2007.

PCHR strongly condemns this crime and calls upon the PNA, represented by the Attorney-General, to seriously investigate the crime and prosecute the perpetrators.