Security Chaos and Proliferation of Weapons

Using Weapons in Clan Disputes

Field Update

4 June 2007

Palestinian Killed and 6 Others, Including 2 Children and a Woman, Wounded in Armed Clan Disputes

In the past 3 days, a Palestinian was killed and 6 others, including 2 children and a woman, were wounded in armed clan disputes in various areas in the Gaza Strip.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR:

At approximately 19:45 on Sunday, 3 June 2007, Mohammed Hamdi al-Masri, 18, was killed by a gunshot to the back, and Bilal Ameen al-Masri, 16, was wounded by a gunshot to the right thigh, when gunmen fired at them near Jamal ‘Abdul Nasser Street in Khan Yunis. An exchange of fire between armed members of the al-Masri and Abu Taha clan had taken place at 19:00 near the desalination plant, but no casualties had been reported.

At approximately 07:30 also on Sunday, Isma’il Jarad al-Farra, 50, from Khan Yunis, was admitted into Gaza European Hospital in Khan Yunis, as he was wounded by a gunshot to the left thigh in an inter-clan dispute.

At approximately 19:30 on Saturday, 2 June 2007, a number of gunmen intercepted Mo’on Ramadan Abu Nahel, 39, when he was traveling in his car in al-Karama housing project in the north of Gaza City. They then fired at him. He was wounded by a gunshot to the left leg. According to Abu Nahel, the gunmen are related to him and they fired at him because of old inter-clan differences.

At approximately 17:30 on Friday, 1 June 2007, Tariq ‘Abdul Qader Ahmed, 15, from Khan Yunis, was wounded by a gunshot to the abdomen while he was riding his bicycle in the east of the town. The child was hit by a gunshot when a number of gunmen traveling in a civilian car fired at houses belonging to the al-Masri clan in the context of a clan dispute.

At approximately 02:00 also on Friday, a dispute among members of the al-Deirawi clan in al-Zawaida village in the central Gaza Strip developed and small arms were used. Three Palestinians, including a mediator and a woman, were wounded:

1)      Hasan Hussein Hamdan, 47, from Nusairat refugee camp, wounded by shrapnel to the back;

2)      Sahar Mustafa al-Hawajri, 30, wounded by a gunshot to the back; and

3)      Mohammed Suleiman al-Deirawi, 37, from Deir al-Balah, wounded by a gunshot to the right thigh.

PCHR is gravely concerned over increasing casualties resulting from the use of weapons in clan disputes, which is part of the state of security chaos and proliferation of weapons. PCHR calls upon the Palestinian National Authority, represented by the Attorney-General, to investigate these incidents and bring those who are found responsible to justice.