Field Update

On Monday, 30 December 2013, a man was killed in a family dispute
in Jenin, and a girl was killed in Gaza when she played with her father’s gun
in Gaza.  These two incidents are parts
of the phenomenon of the misuse of weapons and violations of the rule of law
prevailing in the occupied Palestinian territory. 

According to investigations conducted by the Palestinian Center for
Human Rights (PCHR), at approximately 14:45 on Monday, 30 December 2013, a
quarrel erupted between Wa’el Zuhair al-Qerem, 34, from Jalqamous village
southeast of Jenin, and one of his relatives on the main road in the
village.  Bystanders were able to end the
quarrel.  Later, the quarrel between
al-Qerem and his relative erupted again near the former’s house, during which
the relative fired at him from a pistol. 
He was seriously wounded by a bullet to the head.  He died upon arrival at Khalil Suleiman
Hospital in Jenin. 

Palestinian security forced arrived at the area and started
searching for the perpetrators who escaped. 
The public prosecution opened an investigation into the incident. 

At approximately 15:30 on the same day, Leen Mohammed Humaida, 17,
from Gaza City, was admitted into Shifa Hospital as she was injured by a bullet
to the abdomen. Half an hour later, she was pronounced dead.  According to the police’s spokesman in Gaza,
Lieutenant Colnel Ayoub Abu Shaar, preliminary investigations revealed that the
girl was playing with her father pistol, when a bullet was unleashed hitting
her in the abdomen. 

PCHR is deeply concerned over increasing casualties resulting from
the misuse of weapons, and calls upon the Attorney General in Ramallah and Gaza
to investigate these two incidents and to take necessary action to stop such
phenomenon.