Ref: 76/2011
The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR)
condemns attacks launched by unknown persons on UNRWA summer games camps,
including the most recent attack this morning on a summer games camp erected on
the beach of Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip. PCHR calls upon the office of the
Attorney General to open serious investigations into the attack which is a part
of the state of security chaos and misuse of weapons, bring perpetrators to
justice and publish the results of investigations.
On Thursday morning, 28 July 2011, a PCHR
fieldworker headed to the scene and witnessed the impact of the attack on the
summer games camp in Beit Lahia which was planned to be used today in order to
break a new kite flying world record.
According to a press released published by
UNRWA today morning, at 00:10 on Thursday, 28 July 2011, 10 men attacked and
destroyed the camp which was planned to be used by UNRWA today in order to
break a new kite flying world record. UNRWA noted that the attackers destroyed
a big board, burned the UN flag and set fire in the stage. None of the guards
was hurt. UNRWA condemned this attack and considered it as an attack on Gaza
children as well as on the UN. UNRWA noted that they would repair the damages
caused to the camp and would implement activities as planned.
It should be noted that during the summer of
2010, two attacks were launched on UNRWA summer camps by unknown persons. The
first attack was launched on 23 May 2010 on a summer games camp on the beach in
the west of Gaza City while the second attack was launched on 28 June 2010 on a
camp in the west of Zawaida village in central Gaza Strip. No results of
investigations were officially published with regard to these two attacks.
PCHR strongly condemns this attack which is
part of the state of security chaos and misuse of weapons plaguing the Occupied
Palestinian Teritory, and calls upon the Palestinian government in Gaza to open
immediate and effective investigations into this attack and prosecute
perpetrators. PCHR also calls for the publication of the results of the
investigation into this attack and of investigations into previous similar
attacks, and for taking a clear and explicit position towards the condemnation
of similar attacks.
