2 Palestinians Killed by Palestinian Armed Groups in the West Bank

Security Chaos and Proliferation of Small Arms

Extra-judicial Assassination of Citizens for Suspected Treason

Field Update

21 March 2006

2 Palestinians Killed by Palestinian Armed Groups in the West Bank 

Two citizens from Salfit were killed in the span of 48 hours, in two incidents of extra-judicial assassination, perpetrated by armed Palestinian groups against suspects of collaboration with Israeli security services.

PCHR’s initial investigations indicate that at approximately 12:30 on Monday, 20 March 2006, a civilian vehicle stopped in front of the home of Ahmad Nasim Ahmad Salim, a 25-year old resident of Salfit, southwest of Nablus. A masked gunman, armed with an automatic rifle, came out of the car and rang the door bell. When the aforementioned citizen came out, the gunman fired at him, hitting him with a bullet in the mouth. The man was taken to the emergency hospital in the town, where he died shortly after arrival.

At approximately 20:00 on Saturday 18 March 2006, an unidentified gunman fired at Khaled Samih Younis (40) as he and his wife were standing in front of their house in the Kfar Saba neighborhood in Qalqilya. He was hit with several bullets that killed him instantly.

It is noted that, on 26 February 2006, the body of Kamel Yousef Khalil El-Edra (35) was found in an open area in Hebron. He was killed by an unidentified armed group. PCHR’s initial investigation indicated that the killing was motivated by suspicion of collaborating with Israeli security.

PCHR condemns the falling of victims through extra-judicial assassinations by armed Palestinian groups for suspicion of collaboration with Israeli security, and:

–         States that these crimes are a form of extra-judicial assassination, and a flagrant violation of human rights;

–         Legal dealing with suspected collaborators with the occupation is the task and duty of the Palestinian National Authority and its branches. This process must be conducted within the framework of the law, ensuring the legal rights of suspects. This includes their right to a fair trial; and

–         Reiterates its strong rejection of the death penalty under any and all circumstances. This penalty is a flagrant violation of human rights, especially the right to life and the right to freedom from torture and cruel and inhumane treatment.