2 Palestinians Killed and 2 Others Wounded by Security Officials in Qalqilya and Gaza

Ref: 139/2007

Date: 17 October  2007

Time: 12:30 GMT

2 Palestinians Killed and 2 Others Wounded by Security Officials in Qalqilya and Gaza

PCHR calls upon the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) to investigate the killing of 2 Palestinians, including a child, by security officials in the northern West Bank town of Qalqilya. PCHR calls also for investigating the circumstances in which 2 other Palestinians were wounded by the police in Gaza City. PCHR is concerned that excessive and disproportionate force might have been employed against civilian persons in the two incidents.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 14:00 on Saturday, 13 October 2007, a member of the Palestinian National Security Forces ordered Hussam Wajeeh Salam Abu ‘Assab, 22, to stop while he was riding his bicycle near the headquarters of the forces in the center of Qalqilya, but he did not obey the order. Immediately, security men fired at him. He was seriously wounded by a gunshot that entered the back and exited the chest. He died on the way to the hospital. At approximately 16:00, dozens of the victim’s relatives gathered and threw stones and empty bottles at the headquarters of the National Security Forces in the center of Qaqlilya. The clashes between the two sides developed into the exchange of fire and the use of sharp tools. As a result, Yazid Mohammed ‘Obaid, 5, was killed by a gunshot to the head.

In a separate incident, on Tuesday evening, 16 October 2007, 2 Palestinians were wounded when the police opened fire indiscriminately in al-Shoja’eya neighborhood in the east of Gaza City. The police had arrived in the neighborhood at approximately 15:30 to confiscate a jeep from Rami Akram Helles, who used to be a member of the police investigation bureau before Hamas’ takeover of the Gaza Strip. Helles refused to hand the jeep and a debate erupted between him and the police. Members of the police force opened fire indiscriminately. As a result, 2 Palestinians were wounded:

1.      Salim Mohammed al-Safadi, 39, wounded by a gunshot to the left leg; and

2.      Fayez Tawfiq al-Belbaissi, 27, wounded by shrapnel to the left leg.

In light of the above:

1)      PCHR calls upon the PNA, represented by the Attorney General, to investigate the two incidents and declare the results of investigations.

2)      Stresses that there must be clear instructions to regulate the use of firearms by law enforcement officials that conform to international standards and ensure protection of human rights.